India and Thailand Elevate Relations to Strategic Partnership

India and Thailand elevated their ties to a strategic partnership on Thursday, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra discussed strengthening trade and investment, as well as deepening cooperation in defence, security, cybercrime prevention, and combating human trafficking.

Narendra Modi and Paetongtarn Shinawatra explored ways to enhance trade and investment and bolster cooperation in defence, security and countering cyber-crimes and human trafficking. (PMO)

The meeting took place in Bangkok, a day before Thailand is set to host the BIMSTEC Summit on Friday. As a significant partner of India within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Thailand has seen growing bilateral collaboration in defence and security under India’s “Act East” policy.

Modi expressed India’s heartfelt condolences for the loss of lives caused by the earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand on March 28, during a joint media interaction with Shinawatra, stating: “Thailand has a special place in India’s ‘Act East’ policy and our Indo-Pacific vision. Today we have decided to give our relations the form of a strategic partnership.”

He added, speaking in Hindi, “We also discussed the establishment of a strategic dialogue between our security agencies.”

Focusing on China, Modi stated that India fully supports ASEAN unity and that both nations are committed to a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific. He also emphasized that, as maritime neighbors in the ASEAN region, they share mutual interests in ensuring regional peace, stability, and prosperity.

“We believe in the policy of development, not expansionism,” Modi indirectly referred to China's growing assertiveness in the South and East China Seas. In a social media post, he highlighted that India's "Act East" policy and Thailand's "Act West" policy align and create opportunities for collaboration.

In a social media post, Modi mentioned that the two sides explored collaboration in key strategic areas, including defence, security, maritime safety, and hydrography. “We also reiterated our commitment to working together to overcome the challenges of terrorism, money laundering and more,” he said in the post.

In a media interaction, Modi expressed gratitude to the Thai government for its support in repatriating Indian citizens who fell victim to cyber-crime. He highlighted that both nations had agreed to enhance cooperation between their security agencies to address human trafficking and illegal migration.

Last month, Thailand played a crucial role in the repatriation of nearly 550 Indian nationals who had been rescued from cyber-crime centres near its border with Myanmar. These individuals were lured to Thailand or Myanmar with deceptive promises of IT sector jobs and were trafficked to cyber-crime centres, primarily operated by Chinese criminal gangs, in the lawless border regions of Myanmar.

Modi also emphasized the importance of strengthened cooperation in tourism, culture, and education between India’s northeastern states and Thailand. Discussions also focused on increasing trade, investment, and business exchanges between the two countries.

“We have decided to increase cooperation in renewable energy, digital technology, e-vehicle, robotics, space, biotechnology and start-ups. Along with physical connectivity, work will be done to increase fintech connectivity between the two countries,” he said. India has started offering free e-visas to Thai tourists in an effort to encourage people-to-people exchanges.

In 2023, the trade between India and Thailand, ASEAN’s second-largest economy, reached $16 billion, with imports from Thailand making up $10.11 billion. Within the ASEAN region, Thailand ranks as India’s fourth-largest trade partner, following Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

In addition to a joint declaration establishing a strategic partnership, both countries signed several memorandums of understanding (MoUs). These included agreements on cooperation in digital technologies, the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, and support for micro, small, and medium enterprises.

Furthermore, the two sides finalized two agreements related to India’s northeastern states: one between India’s Ministry of Development of the Northeastern Region and Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and another between the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation and Thailand’s Creative Economy Agency.

Modi also emphasized the longstanding cultural and religious connections between India and Thailand, stating: “There has been an exchange of scholars from Ayutthaya to Nalanda. The story of Ramayana is deeply embedded in Thai folk life and the influences of Sanskrit and Pali are still reflected in languages and traditions.”

He highlighted that the holy relics of Lord Buddha, which were sent from India to Thailand last year, drew over four million visitors. He also announced that sacred relics discovered in the Aravalli Hills of Gujarat in 1960 will soon be sent to Thailand.

He expressed heartfelt thanks to the Thai government for releasing a special stamp featuring 18th-century Ramayana mural paintings in honor of his visit, and for gifting him a special edition of the Tripitaka — the revered collection of Buddhist scriptures — published in 2016 to commemorate the reign of King Rama IX.

(This Article was originally published by Hindustan Times)