HAWAII, U.S. – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow visited Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, where he was welcomed by Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and senior command officials. During the visit, the Deputy Prime Minister laid a wreath at the USS Arizona Memorial in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941. The ceremony was attended by Thailand’s Ambassador to the United States Suriya Chindawongse, Admiral Paparo, and representatives from Thailand and the United States.
The Deputy Prime Minister also visited the U.S. Pacific Fleet and observed multinational fleets participating in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, held from June 24 to July 31, 2026. RIMPAC 2026 brings together 31 nations in the Hawaiian Islands region and is recognized by the U.S. Pacific Fleet as the world’s largest international maritime exercise. The Deputy Prime Minister thanked Admiral Paparo for the warm welcome and reaffirmed the importance of the Thailand–United States alliance in supporting regional peace and security, especially in a rapidly changing international security environment. He also expressed Thailand’s readiness to further strengthen cooperation for the mutual benefit of both countries. (NNT)
