On 14 June 2023, H.E. Mr. Sarun Charoensuwan, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, attended the ASEAN Regional Forum Senior Officials’ Meeting (ARF SOM) via video conference. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Mr. Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, Director-General for ASEAN Affairs Department and ARF Senior Official of Indonesia. Senior Officials of other ARF Participants also attended the Meeting.

The Meeting reviewed progress made in the implementation of the ARF Ha Noi Plan of Action II (2020-2025) and discussed the List of Track I Activities as well as the Co-Chairmanship of ARF Meetings and Activities for the Inter-Sessional Year 2023-2024. On this occasion, Thailand expressed views on recent security development in the region, shared concerns over heightened major power rivalry within the region and reiterated the important role of the ARF as a venue conducive for open and frank discussion on political and security issues. As the Co-chair of the ARF Inter-Sessional Meeting on Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, Thailand also reiterated commitment to undertaking the obligations and working with other State Parties to strengthen the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and TPNW and called for nuclear weapon states (NWS) to engage with ASEAN on the signing of the Protocol to the SEANWFZ Treaty.

Thailand will also co-chair several activities in 2023-2024 as part of promoting confidence-building measures, including the ARF Seminar on Marine Debris with the United States and China, 2nd ARF Training on Ferry Safety Capacity Building with China, ARF Series of Workshops on Countering the Use of ICTs for Criminal Purposes with the Russian Federation and China, and ARF Workshop on National Survey of Implementation of UN recommendations on responsible use of ICTs by states in the context of international security with Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia.

The Meeting also had an extensive exchange of views on regional and international issues, including cybersecurity, counter-terrorism and transnational crime, climate change, non-proliferation and disarmament, as well as developments in the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula, the situation in Ukraine and Myanmar.