Duckworth Meets with U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Nominee

Duckworth Meets with U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Nominee

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)-a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)-yesterday met with Sean O'Neill, the nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to Thailand, ahead of his committee vote. The two discussed how, if confirmed, they can work together to continue to strengthen the U.S.-Thailand alliance and further enhance economic ties between Illinois and Thailand.

"I'm pleased to see an experienced, career State Department diplomat be nominated to serve in this critical role tasked with enhancing our close, vital alliance with Thailand," said Duckworth. "Mr. O'Neill and I had a productive discussion about how we can continue to strengthen economic ties between Thailand and Illinois, enhance diplomacy between our two nations and continue to help ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific. If confirmed, I look forward to working with Mr. O'Neill to elevate the U.S.-Thailand partnership so it continues to benefit both our nations."

Duckworth is a proven leader when it comes to strengthening our relations with Indo-Pacific nations and improving security in the region-which she has done while successfully securing significant international investments in Illinois. Last month, she led official visits to South Korea and Japan to meet with government and economic leaders and discuss how the U.S. can better collaborate with our Indo-Pacific partners to enhance American shipbuilding capabilities and mutually strengthen each other's economies. In May, Duckworth led a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore to reaffirm the United States' strong bipartisan commitment to our partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as a visit to Taiwan to underscore Illinois's preparedness for additional international investments similar to those she's already successfully secured in her previous international travels. In the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that was signed into law, Duckworth successfully secured a modified version of her Access to Care for Overseas Military Act to improve medical readiness in the Indo-Pacific.

Last year, Duckworth carried out an official visit to Laos and Vietnam to reinforce America's commitment to our partners in ASEAN, strengthening U.S.-ASEAN economic ties and building on the foundations of the U.S.-Laos relationship. She also led a bipartisan U.S. Senate delegation to Taiwan to underscore and reaffirm our nation's strong bipartisan support for the people of Taiwan. In 2023, Duckworth led an official visit to Japan and Indonesia as part of her continuing efforts to strengthen ties and reinforce support between allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region and the United States. Later that year, Duckworth led another official visit to the Indo-Pacific region again, visiting Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines to meet with government and business leaders and discuss opportunities that would increase cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as economic investments, regional stability and national security.

In 2022, Duckworth traveled to South Korea and Taiwan where she met with business, government and trade leaders, which helped lead to a joint venture between Illinois's ADM and South Korea's LG Chem, as well as a commitment from Taiwan to purchase an estimated $2.6 billion of Illinois's corn and soybeans. In 2021, Duckworth, Sullivan and Coons also travelled to Taiwan to announce that the United States would donate 750,000 COVID-19 vaccines to Taiwan as part of President Biden's plan to provide vaccines to our global partners in need. Duckworth also successfully included a modified version of her Strengthen Taiwan's Security Act in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to help Taiwan strengthen its military defenses. In 2019, Duckworth led a bipartisan delegation to Japan and Singapore. In 2018, Duckworth visited South Korea and Japan.

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