Trade. Friendship. Security. Thailand has strengthened all of these and its leadership in the region by signing strategic partnerships with Viet Nam and Indonesia. The agreements are designed to accelerate trade, cooperate on defense, and deepen friendships with vital neighbours.

All three countries are members of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The grouping is home to 676.6 million people and had a nominal Gross Domestic Product of $3.8 trillion in 2023. The Asian Development Bank estimated that ASEAN produced growth of 4.7 percent in 2024. The region comprises diverse and dynamic economies with strong potential for prosperity.

The partnerships are a promising sign that ASEAN is making significant strides toward one of its key goals: increasing trade and investment between its member nations. Expanding intra-group trade should reduce reliance on other countries and markets, especially given that global geopolitics and trade have become more volatile in recent years.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Viet Nam during a visit to Hanoi in mid-May, where she met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The agreement brings the countries’ bilateral relations to the highest level.

“This is not only a political statement, representing a symbolic milestone, but also a strategic commitment, affirming a new breakthrough in the content and depth of cooperation,” Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Bilateral trade between Viet Nam and Thailand is approximately $20 billion a year, and the two countries pledged to raise that to $25 billion by 2030.

About one week later, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra hosted President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia at Government House in Bangkok. They used the occasion of the first official visit by an Indonesian leader to Thailand in 20 years to announce the strategic partnership.

“The two countries will create a strategic partnership and stand ready to strengthen cooperation to benefit the people of Indonesia and Thailand,” Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra told reporters.

Trade between the neighbours was worth $18 billion in 2024. Thailand is ASEAN’s second-largest economy and Indonesia is its most populous nation.

They also agreed to work together to solve regional challenges and problems, such as the civil war in Myanmar.

“Thailand and Indonesia, as steadfast friends of Myanmar, will work closely with Malaysia, which is this year's Chair of ASEAN, to bring peace to Myanmar,” Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said.

Photo:

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