Thailand welcomes US-Myanmar engagement

Thailand's Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow expressed appreciation for the United States engaging with Myanmar's military-backed government. He emphasized that Thailand does not wish to see Myanmar isolated and does not intend to legitimize the regime through US involvement. The focus of US-Myanmar discussions is to promote peaceful conflict resolution and reconciliation with opposition groups.

Thailand is optimistic about the upcoming Asean summit in Manila, where they hope to discuss how to proceed with Myanmar's reintegration into the region, following the 2021 coup. Sihasak noted that there has been a shift in Asean's position, citing President Min Aung Hlaing's recent visits to neighboring countries.

Regarding border disputes, Thailand and Cambodia could potentially resolve their land and maritime disagreements within 12 to 18 months. However, confidence-building measures and addressing security concerns remain crucial before discussions on resource-sharing can take place. The maritime boundary dispute involves overlapping claims to approximately 26,000 square kilometers in the Gulf of Thailand, which may hold valuable oil and gas reserves worth around $300 billion.