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Sakthip Krairiksh
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the United States

Ambassador Sakthip Krairiksh has served as Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the United States of America since December 2001 and is concurrently Non-Resident Ambassador of Thailand to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

Prior to his current appointment, Ambassador Sakthip has had a long and illustrious career with the Thai civil service. Upon the completion of his studies, Ambassador Sakthip first joined the Ministry of Interior before moving to the Office of National Security Council, Prime Minister’s Office from 1976 - 1978. In 1979, he embarked upon his diplomatic career with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, when he was Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was appointed Director-General of the Protocol Department in the Ministry in 1988, and in 1990 became Director-General of the Department of Information and the Ministry’s Spokesman. His first tour of duty abroad was in Washington D.C. in 1982 where he was Deputy Chief of Mission of the Royal Thai Embassy. He returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1986 to assume the post as Ambassador-at-Large, in charge of American Affairs.

Ambassador Sakthip’s first posting as chief of mission was as Thai Ambassador to Cambodia during 1993 – 1995. After returning to Bangkok in 1995 to assume the position of Deputy Permanent Secretary, he was appointed Thailand’s Ambassador to Japan in May 1999, where he remained until his current assignment in the United States.

In addition to his positions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sakthip also held various positions on other government organization as Board of Directors of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the National Cultural Committee, and HRH Prince Mahidol Awards.

Ambassador Sakthip received his education both in Thailand and in the United States. After completing high school in California, he went to Boston University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1971. In Thailand, Ambassador Sakthip attended the National Defence College in 1989. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree by Soka University in Japan in 2001.

In recognition of his work and contribution to Thailand’s relations with foreign countries, Ambassador Sakthip has been bestowed royal decorations from His Majesty the King of Thailand as well as from foreign governments, including the United Kingdom and Japan.

Ambassador Sakthip was born in Bangkok, Thailand in 1947 and is married to M.R. Benchapa Krairiksh. They have three children.