Summary of the Weekly Press Briefing

By the Director-General of the Department of Information

and MFA Spokesperson

on 31 July 2026 at 14:45 hrs.

MFA Press Conference Room

1. Outcome Summary of the participation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister at the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Ministerial Meetings in Manila
   
   

1.1 Meetings of the AMM/PMC

• The AMM/PMC meetings just concluded in Manila last week were one of ASEAN’s most significant gatherings of the year. The meetings have continued to demonstrate ASEAN’s relevance and convening power in bringing together partner countries from outside the region to engage with ASEAN Member States in shaping the direction of regional cooperation and addressing both traditional and emerging challenges.
• DPM/FM attented a total of 18 meetings, comprising: (1) the formal and informal ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meetings; (2) meetings with ASEAN’s 11 Dialogue Partners; and (3) five other related meetings, namely:

(1) the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Meeting;

(2) the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF);

(3) the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting;

(4) the Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting;

(5) the Mekong-Republic of Korea Foreign Ministers’ Meeting; and

• At the AMM/PMC, ASEAN Foreign Ministers endorsed the admission of Türkiye as its 12^th Dialogue Partner. They also approved the admission of Germany and Qatar as Sectoral Dialogue Partners, bringing the total number of Sectoral Dialogue Partners to ten. In addition, the Ministers agreed to admit the United Kingdom as the 28^th participant in the ARF.
• Overall, the meetings focused on issues of importance and urgency to advancing ASEAN centrality and strengthening ASEAN Community-Building. Cross-cutting issues that featured across all meetings included:

(1) Global volatility and uncertainty arising from geopolitical landscape and competition, the situation in the Middle East, and the growing trend toward trade protectionism. In these discussions, participating countries reaffirmed support for multilateralism and a rules-based international order.

(2) Energy security, in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and particularly the importance of freedom of navigation. This has underscored the importance of diversifying energy sources and enhancing resilient supply chains.

(3) Regional developments, including:

- The South China Sea and maritime security, where partner countries stressed the importance of resolving disputes peacefully in accordance with international law; and

- The situation in Myanmar, about which ASEAN dicussions are still evolving and centered around the Five-point Consensus and its implementation. Partner countries also acknowledged Thailand’s calibrated re-engagement approach on the issue.

(4) Efforts in combating transnational crime, particularly online scams which is an important issue for Thailand.

• In addition, other key priorities advanced by Thailand during these meetings included:

(1) Regionalism – by promoting ASEAN’s role in maintaining regional peace and stability and in shaping the direction of cooperation across a wide range of issues, while upholding ASEAN centrality.

(2) Resilience – by strengthening engagement with both major and middle powers amid intensifying geopolitical competition, on the basis of a rules-based international order, while preserving ASEAN’s strategic autonomy.

(3) Relevance – by ensuring that ASEAN looks beyond Southeast Asia, while playing a leading role in shaping and advancing cooperation on issues that directly affect people’s lives, including efforts to combat transnational crime and online scams.

• The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting adopted the Joint Communiqué reaffirming ASEAN's commitment to unity, centrality, and a rules-based regional order while advancing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 under the Philippines’ chairmanship theme, “Navigating Our Future, Together.” Looking ahead, the Ministers underscored the importance of deeper regional cooperation to strengthen ASEAN's long-term competitiveness and resilience and stronger collaboration with external partners to address shared challenges.
• In addition, as this year marks the 50^th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the Philippines convened the High-Level Conference of High Contracting Parties to the TAC, attended by ministers and representatives of all 62 High Contracting Parties. These include the four additional countries, namely Poland, Romania, Sweden, and Lithuania, who signed the TAC Instrument of Accession at this meeting.
• The steadily growing membership of the TAC reflects the international community’s recognition of ASEAN’s role, centrality, and convening power.
  
  

1.2 Bilateral Meetings

• On the sidelines of the AMM/PMC meetings, Deputy Prime Minister Sihasak also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Australia, India, the Republic of Korea, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Egypt and the European Union.
• The discussions mainly focused on how to further strengthen bilateral relations, including through promoting more high-level visits, expanding trade and investment, and enhancing a broad range of cooperation, including combating online scams.
• He also took the opportunity to discuss Thailand’s calibrated re-engagement approach toward Myanmar, as well as to inform them of latest developments and Thailand’s position regarding the Thailand - Cambodia situation. This has helped ensure international partners have a correct understanding of the situation, including as it relates to enhancing overall border security and Thailand’s engagement with the Compulsory Conciliation proceedings under UNCLOS.

2. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister’s participation in the Prime Minister’s Official Visit to Indonesia

• During 3 - 4 August, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs will join the Prime Minister’s official visit to the Republic of Indonesia. This visit will mark the Prime Minister’s first visit to Indonesia since assuming office in April, and the first official visit at Prime Minister level from Thailand to Indonesia in over 15 years. It also reflects Thailand’s commitment to strengthening relations with Indonesia, a co-founding member of ASEAN and the largest country in the region in terms of population and size of economy.
• During the visit, the Prime Minister will co-chair the 2nd Leaders’ Consultation, a mechanism initiated by Thailand in 2025 during the official visit to Thailand by President Prabowo.
• On this occasion, both sides will announce the Thailand–Indonesia Roadmap on Strategic Partnership for 2026–2030, which will serve to elevate bilateral relations and guide future cooperation.
• The Prime Minister, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs will also advance economic diplomacy by participating in meetings with Indonesian private sector representatives and potential investors as well as a meeting with the ASEAN Secretary-General, at which time the Prime Minister will also deliver a keynote address outlining Thailand’s vision for the future of ASEAN, as part of Thailand’s preparations for its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2028.

Watch the full session at: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/194kbbUdtD/