Thailand: Thailand and India have taken significant steps to bolster their bilateral cooperation under the BIMSTEC framework, focusing on military collaboration, addressing flood and drought challenges, and reviving cooperation in the Mekong-Ganga basin to enhance the role of developing nations.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Maris Sengiampong, Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, discussed key areas of cooperation with Mr. Supramnayam Jaishankar, India’s Minister of External Affairs. The talks centered around three main issues: enhancing bilateral cooperation in the military sector, leading initiatives under the BIMSTEC framework, and addressing security concerns related to food, energy, and humanity. The two countries aim to strengthen their military industries by collaborating on the development of small aircraft, armored vehicles, and tanks, with India currently working with Airbus on such projects.
Mr. Maris highlighted the importance of Thailand and India’s leadership in driving BIMSTEC initia
tives. Both countries are poised to play a pivotal role in advancing the interests of developing nations and fostering new economic developments. The discussions also covered the potential for Thailand and India to collaborate on ensuring food security, leveraging their expertise in grains and fisheries.
Furthermore, the talks emphasized the importance of energy security and the potential for joint research into alternative energy sources. Mr. Supramnayam expressed support for cooperation in tropical disease research, highlighting Thailand’s existing capabilities in tropical medicine. This collaboration could lead to advances in business, research, medicine, and vaccine production, benefiting BIMSTEC member countries and the broader South Asian region.
The discussions also addressed the impact of Typhoon Changi, which caused significant flooding in Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is working to enhance cooperation among Mekong Subregion countries and partners such as the Un
ited States, Japan, South Korea, and others to systematically tackle drought and flooding challenges.
Lastly, the revival of the Mekong-Ganga cooperation was a key topic, with Mr. Maris expressing a strong intention to rekindle this collaboration. India, with its extensive experience in water management, is seen as a valuable partner in addressing these challenges. Thailand’s cooperation with the Mekong River Institute and the Mekong River Commission further underscores the importance of developing effective water management strategies.