On 31 October 2023, Mr. Sarun Charoensuwan, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and General Sanitchanog Sangkachantra, Permanent Secretary for Defence, co-chaired the 2nd 2+2 Senior Officials' Talks (SOTs) between Thailand and Australia. The high-level meeting was held in Canberra, Australia, following the 19th 1+1 Senior Officials’ Talks between the Thai and Australian Permanent Secretaries for Foreign Affairs held earlier on the same day. The Australian side was co-chaired by Ms. Jan Adams, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia, and Mr. Greg Moriarty, Secretary of the Department of Defence.

The Senior Officials’ Talks aimed to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between Thailand and Australia as strategic partners and to enhance mutual collaboration across various dimensions, including political, economic, and security aspects. This included both traditional cooperation, and non-traditional areas like cyber security. Additionally, the meeting expected to foster dialogue towards ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.

Thailand and Australia have mutually enjoyed close and enduring relations for more than 70 years. In 2020, the two nations elevated their bilateral relations to a Strategic partnership and in 2022 signed the Joint-Plan of Action to Implement the Thailand-Australia Strategic partnership 2022-2025. During the 1+1 Senior Officials’ Talks, the Status Update on Key Activities under the Australia-Thailand Strategic Partnership Joint Plan of Action (2022-2025) to follow up on cooperation outlined in the Joint Plan of Action, including political and defence, socio-cultural, and economic and trade, was endorsed. Both parties aimed to deepen and enhance the existing diverse, comprehensive, and constructive mutual cooperation.

Moreover, the high-level meetings served as a platform for exchange of perspectives on strategic priorities and current regional and international situations such as dynamics and progress in the Indo-Pacific region, bilateral and multilateral security cooperation, situation in Myanmar and in the Middle East, as well as cooperation at sub-regional and regional levels, including 
the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) and ASEAN which are areas of focus for Thailand and Australia as they explore opportunities to advance mutual interests.

Thailand and Australia take turns in co-chairing the 1+1 and 2+2 Senior Officials’ Talks, which are held regularly as platforms for dialogues and exchange of views on bilateral cooperation and strategic common interests.