Thailand welcomes US-Myanmar engagement

Thailand's foreign minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow expressed welcome for the US re-engaging with Myanmar following the 2021 coup. He stated that Thailand does not want Myanmar to be isolated or used as a pawn in geopolitical rivalry. The US and Myanmar's military government met in Tokyo two weeks ago, marking their second meeting in a month.

Sihasak, also deputy prime minister, emphasized that the US engagement's goal is to promote peaceful conflict resolution and reconciliation with the opposition, not to legitimize the regime.

There appears to be a shift in Asean's stance, with Myanmar presidents visits to several Asean countries. However, it remains unclear if the Manila summit will discuss restoring Myanmar's full representation. Thailand and Cambodia could potentially resolve their long-standing border disputes within a year to eighteen months, despite limited progress so far. Confidence-building measures and addressing security concerns along the land border, where clashes have occurred, must be prioritized first.

The maritime boundary dispute, centered on overlapping claims to approximately 26,000 square kilometers in the Gulf of Thailand, holds significant value with estimated oil and gas reserves worth around US$300 billion. Thailand seeks to define the boundary before discussing resource-sharing. Thailand and the EU are in the final stages of free-trade negotiations, which could conclude by the end of the year if there's mutual political will.