On 2 February 2024, H.E. Mr. Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the 3rd EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum (IPMF) in Brussels, Belgium. The Forum was attended by 69 Ministerial-level representatives from Europe and the Indo-Pacific and 5 from international organizations. H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs was also in attendance.

At the IPMF, Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree participated in the plenary session chaired by Mr. Josep Borrell Fontelles, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP) and delivered an intervention at a roundtable session on “Geopolitical and Security Challenges in the Indo-Pacific.”

In his remarks, DPM/FM stressed the increasing importance of the Indo-Pacific region in shaping a new global order and driving the world economy amidst a number of geopolitical and security challenges. Thailand, therefore, believed in multipolarity and the role of ASEAN’s convening power which serves as a positive force under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, which also aligns with the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. He welcomed the EU’s active engagement in the Indo-Pacific region to promote peace, security and prosperity through concrete cooperation with Thailand and ASEAN. In addition, DPM/FM reaffirmed Thailand’s continued support for Myanmar through humanitarian initiative which is supported by ASEAN for a peaceful, stable and unified Myanmar.

On this occasion, DPM/FM had bilateral meetings with H.E. Ms. Hanke Bruins Slot, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and H.E. Mr. Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between Thailand – the Netherlands and Thailand – Hungary. He also requested support from his EU counterparts for Thailand’s candidature for the UN Human Rights Council for the term 2025-2027, OECD Membership, the on-going Thai-EU FTA negotiations and a visa-free Schengen access for Thai ordinary passport holders.

On the sidelines of the IPMF, Vice Minister Sihasak met with Mr. Enrique Mora, EU Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs and Political Director to exchange views on the situation in Myanmar and potential next steps in working together to realize Thailand's and the EU's shared goal of a peaceful, stable, unified Myanmar.

The IPMF is a high-level platform for dialogue and cooperation between the 27 European Union countries and its Indo-Pacific partners, spanning from the east coast of Africa to South Asia, Southeast and Northeast Asia, and to the Pacific Islands, as well as representatives from regional organizations in the Indo-Pacific such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). The IPMF was first held in Paris, France in 2022 and in Stockholm, Sweden for the second time in 2023. Thailand has attended every IPMF at the Ministerial level.