On 19 May 2026, H.E. Ms. Prinat Apirat, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand to ASEAN, attended the 17^th ASEAN-U.S. Joint Cooperation Committee Meeting at the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta.

Ambassador Prinat proposed ways to further strengthen ASEAN-U.S. relations, while emphasising cooperation on combating transnational crime, especially online scams, as well as enhancing energy and food security and strengthening supply chain connectivity, including for critical minerals. She also underscored the important role of the U.S. in advancing the region’s economy, science, technology, and innovation, particularly in the areas of digital economy and artificial intelligence (AI).

The U.S. reaffirmed its support for ASEAN Centrality and ASEAN-led mechanisms, while expressing its commitment to expanding cooperation with ASEAN in areas including digital economy, technology, combating transnational crime, energy and critical minerals, maritime security, disaster management, public health, and the promotion of people-to-people and youth exchanges.

The ASEAN-U.S. Dialogue Relations were formally established in 1977 and elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2015. Both sides subsequently announced the establishment of an ASEAN-U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at the 10^th ASEAN-U.S. Summit in November 2022.

Photo courtesy of the ASEAN Secretariat