On the surface, Thailand and North Korea have little in common. The former is a constitutional monarchy allied with the U.S. that has alternated between democracy and military rule; the latter a communist state ruled by a hereditary dictatorship.

But the two sides have nonetheless maintained friendly ties for nearly five decades, and their relationship could be poised to strengthen depending on the policies that the second Trump administration pursues.

Much like Vietnam, Thailand’s foreign policy prioritizes maintaining stable ties with both the U.S. and China. As such, when Trump pressured Bangkok