9th India-Thailand defence dialogue held in Delhi

The 9th India-Thailand Defence Dialogue was held in New Delhi on Thursday. The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary for International Cooperation Amitabh Prasad and Thailand’s Deputy Permanent Secretary for Defence General Tharapong Malakam.

During the discussions, both sides agreed to set up a joint working group to oversee and monitor cooperation in the defence industry. They also decided to initiate exchanges between subject-matter experts from the armed forces of both countries.

Amitabh Prasad highlighted the capabilities of India’s domestic defence industry and its potential to contribute to Thailand’s defence acquisition plans. General Malakam acknowledged India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem and proposed exploring collaborations in co-design, co-production, and co-development.

“The dialogue is a significant milestone in intensifying defence relations with Thailand. Thailand is a maritime neighbour and a valued partner in India’s ‘Act East’ Policy and the Indo-Pacific region. Thailand’s ‘Act West’ Policy compliments India’s ‘Act East’ Policy, providing the basis for substantive elevation of bilateral relations,” reads the official statement issued by the government.

Earlier in the day, General Malakam laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi to honour fallen soldiers. The Thai delegation also visited the National Museum, where they paid their respects to the holy relics of Lord Buddha.

As part of the visit, the delegation is scheduled to meet officials at the Defence Research and Development Organisation headquarters to explore joint production and defence research initiatives.