CFR Expert Brief on Thailand

Over this past weekend, Thailand’s volatile political situation, which had been burning hotter and hotter since early February, finally exploded in violence that killed at least twenty people and wounded hundreds. Though both the protestors and the government have stepped back from the brink temporarily, the battle is likely to resume, since underlying grievances on both sides are no closer to being resolved.

In a new CFR Expert Brief, I examine the factors behind Thailand’s deterioration, look at whether the country can step back from much worse violence, and discuss the role for the United States, a treaty ally of Thailand and long the country’s most important partner.