Embassy of the United States, Bangkok

The Embassy of the United States in Bangkok (Thai: สถานเอกอัครราชทูตสหรัฐอเมริกาประจำประเทศไทย) is the diplomatic mission representing the United States in Thailand. At 11 acres, the embassy is the fourth largest US diplomatic mission, after Baghdad, Yerevan, and Beijing.^[1][2] Robert F. Godec is the current US Ambassador to Thailand.^[3]

Embassy of the United States, Bangkok สถานเอกอัครราชทูตสหรัฐอเมริกาประจำประเทศไทย
Location	Bangkok, Thailand
Address	95 Wireless Road, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok
Coordinates	13°44′10.2″N 100°32′47.2″E
Opened	1947
Ambassador	Robert F. Godec
Chargé d'affaires	Michael Heath
Website	Bangkok Embassy

History

During the years 1832–6, Diplomat Edmund Roberts was appointed by President Andrew Jackson as America's first envoy to the Far East, and served on two consecutive non-resident embassies aboard the U. S. Navy sloop-of-war Peacock to the court of King Nangklao (Rama III of the Kings of Thailand.) Roberts negotiated the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Siam and the United States of 1833 and returned in 1836 to exchange ratifications. The Roberts treaty, with subsequent modifications, is still in force.^[4] Roberts also negotiated a treaty and exchanged ratifications with the Sultan of Oman.^[5] In 2008, Roberts was lauded as the "first Deputy U.S. Trade Representative for Asia – and a fine one at that."^[6]

The first diplomatic property for the US in Thailand was gifted by the monarchy in 1896. At the time, it was one of the few diplomatic properties owned abroad in the United States, with most diplomats having to fund their accommodation themselves.^[7] The current ambassadorial residence was built by the English businessman Henry Victor Bailey in 1914. After his death in 1920, this house was sold to the Thai finance ministry. After WWII, Great Britain sought to punish Thailand for having aided Japan, but the U.S. hindered their efforts. For this, the Thai government thanked the U.S. with the house in 1947 and it has been used as the official residence ever since.^[8]

In 1975 a large scale protest, of about 10,000 students, took place outside the embassy when Thai air bases were used by the U.S. Air Force to launch attacks against Cambodia during the seizure of SS Mayaguez, without the permission of the government of Thailand and without informing the embassy.^{[9][10][11]: 55–60}

There were two major events in the 20th century between the two nations. One is the Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations which facilitates U.S. and Thai companies' economic access to one another's markets. Other important agreements address civil uses of atomic energy, sales of agricultural commodities, investment guarantees, and finally military and economic assistance. The other is a Free Trade Agreement between the two nations that was proposed in 2004.^[12][13][14]

Since the military coup of May 2014, relationships between Thailand and the United States have experienced strains, with several ultra-nationalist demonstrations in front of the U.S. Embassy on Wireless Road, and even charges alleged against the U.S. ambassador for lese majeste. The U.S. trimmed military aid to Thailand, the latter which has been courting closer relationships with China and Russia.

Embassy complex

The current embassy compound was completed in 1996, and at the time was the second largest US diplomatic mission after the US Embassy, Cairo.^[15]

A $625 million New Office Annex (NOX) building broke ground in August 2021, scheduled for completion by 2025.^[15] Designed by New York firm SHoP Architects, the NOX will be built to LEED Silver Certification and incorporate traditional Thai architectural elements.^[16]

See also

• List of ambassadors of the United States to Thailand
• Thailand–United States relations

References

1. "US Breaks Ground on Massive Thai Embassy Annex". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
2. "New embassy reflects growing ties to China". NBC News. 4 August 2008. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
3. "Godec confirmed as new US envoy". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
4. Malloy, William M. (March 7, 2008) [1904]. "Siam." (PDF). Compilation of Treaties in Force. Washington: G.P.O. p. 703. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 27, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2012. 1833. Convention of amity and commerce; concluded March 30, 1833; ratification advised by the Senate June 30, 1834; ratified by the President; ratifications exchanged April 14, 1836; proclaimed June 24, 1837. (Treaties and conventions, 1889. p. 992.) (The provisions of this treaty were modified by the Treaty of 1856.)
5. Max Baucus (29 June 2006). "Baucus Floor Statement on US-Oman Free Trade Agreement". Senate Committee on Finance. That treaty with Oman was part of a bigger picture. That bigger picture included Siam — today's Thailand — and Cochin China — today's Vietnam. Edmund Roberts also traveled to those countries to initiate broader commercial ties.
6. Padilla, Christopher A. (7 July 2008). "Asian Economies in Transition Will the United States Be Left Behind". Remarks by Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade to American Enterprise Institute. International Trade Administration. Archived from the original (speech as prepared for delivery) on 2012-09-16. Retrieved 24 May 2012. Roberts was a native of New Hampshire who called himself a Yankee diplomat. In fact, with all due respect to my friend Ambassador Bhatia, Roberts was our first Deputy U.S. Trade Representative for Asia – and a fine one at that.
7. Loeffler, Jane C. (2011). The architecture of diplomacy : building America's embassies (2nd ed.). New York: Princeton Architectural. pp. 15–16. ISBN 978-1-56898-984-6. OCLC 700033660.
8. Peter Haldeman (1 April 2008). "In Bangkok, a Diplomat's Oasis". Architectural Digest. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
9. "Thai students attack embassy". The Prescott Courier. Associated Press. 18 May 1975. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
10. Edward Masters (13 May 1975). "Measures to Obtain Release of the Mayaguez". Office of the Historian. U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
11. Major Thomas E. Behuniak (Fall 1978). "The Seizure and Recovery of the S.S. Mayaguez: Legal Analysis of United States Claims, Part 1" (PDF). Military Law Review. 82. Department of the Army: 41–170. ISSN 0026-4040. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
12. Deitch, Ian (13 January 2012). "Thailand: U.S. Embassy Warns Of Possible Terrorist Attack In Bangkok". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
13. "Mission Thailand's Vision Statement and Core Values". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 4 April 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
14. "Looking Back Over the Years". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 4 April 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
15. "US Breaks Ground on Massive Thai Embassy Annex". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
16. Bangkok, U. S. Embassy (2021-08-31). "U.S. Embassy Begins Construction of New Annex". U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Thailand. Retrieved 2022-07-11.