Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow will postpone his trip to Hawaii, which was scheduled to begin today, due to an urgent engagement, according to Thai Foreign Ministry.
The trip, originally planned for March 29 to April 1, was aimed at strengthening the Thailand–US alliance and deepening strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
During the visit, he was scheduled to meet senior US military leaders, including Admiral Samuel Paparo Jr, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, and General Ronald Clark, commanding general of the US Army Pacific, to discuss expanding defence and security cooperation.
Talks were expected to focus on shared strategic interests amid shifting global dynamics and emerging security challenges.
Discussions on regional and international security issues were also on the agenda.
Sihasak was also set to deliver a speech at the East-West Center titled “The Future of the Thailand–US Alliance in a Changing Global and Regional Landscape,” outlining Thailand’s vision for its partnership with Washington and the broader geopolitical environment.
During the three-day trip, he was due to meet the governor of Hawaii, executives of the Daniel K Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, and members of the Thai community, including business leaders and students.
The visit would have marked the first official trip to Hawaii by a Thai foreign minister in 15 years.
Hawaii hosts key US military commands and serves as a strategic hub linking the Indo-Pacific region. It is also home to major academic institutions that foster regional cooperation and people-to-people ties.
More than 5,000 Thai nationals currently reside in the state.
