Thanat–Rusk communiqué

In the communiqué, the United States promised come to Thailand's aid if it faced aggression by neighboring nations.

The communiqué built upon an American-Thai relationship that had been established in the 19th century, with the bilateral Treaty of Amity and Commerce of 1833.

[1] The communiqué cemented Thailand's role as an important United States ally in the Asia-Pacific region during the Cold War.

In the years that followed the communiqué, the United States would help build up the Royal Thai Armed Forces and modernize Thailand's physical infrastructure.

During the duration of the Vietnam War, the United States also gained access to Thai air bases, which supported its deployment of American military air assets as part of its forward positioning strategy.