8th India-Thailand Defence Dialogue held in Bangkok

New Delhi: The 8th India-Thailand Defence Dialogue was held in Bangkok on April 20, 2023. The meeting was co-chaired by Special Secretary, Ministry of Defence, India Nivedita Shukla Verma and Deputy Permanent Secretary for Defence of Ministry of Defence, Thailand General Nuchit Sribunsong.

During the meeting, both sides expressed satisfaction at the ongoing defence cooperation between the two countries.

The progress on various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives was reviewed. The co-chairs identified means to enhance existing areas of collaboration, especially in the field of defence industry, maritime security and multinational cooperation. Thailand expressed confidence in the capability of Indian defence industry. The two chairs also articulated steps in the direction of emerging areas of cooperation and issues pertaining to global commons.

During the visit, the Special Secretary also called on Permanent Secretary for Defence of Ministry of Defence, Thailand General Sanitchanog Sangkachantra.

Thailand is a key member of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) block which influences the whole Asian continent.

India's 'Act East' policy has been complemented by Thailand's 'Act West' policy in bringing the two countries closer. Both countries are important regional partners linking South and Southeast Asia.

They cooperate closely in the ASEAN, East Asia Summit (EAS) and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi- Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) groupings as also in Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC), Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS).

India-Thailand nations share a strategic partnership and defence is a key pillar of this cooperation. The bilateral defence engagements have expanded over a period of time to include wide ranging contacts between the two countries including Defence Dialogue meeting, military-to-military exchanges, high-level visits, capacity building and training programmes and bilateral exercises.

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