During 20-21 November 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the National Security Council of Thailand, together with the U.S. Department of State, co-hosted the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Southeast Asia Workshop 2024 at Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel, Bangkok, with an objective to exchange information and build capacity of experts in Southeast Asia regarding efforts to prevent the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and related materials.

On this occasion, Ms. Cataleya Phatoomros, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Organizations, delivered remarks at the opening session, underscoring Thailand’s commitment to WMD non-proliferation and the implementation of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, including cooperation under the PSI framework. The Workshop was well-attended by PSI-endorsing States and observer States, including Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam. Also in attendance were representatives from relevant Thai agencies, as well as experts from Australia, Japan and the UK.

PSI was initiated by the U.S. in 2003 as a voluntary framework for States to prevent the transport and transfer of WMDs, their delivery system and related materials by means of land transportation, vessels, and aircrafts, in accordance with the Interdiction Principles. The PSI currently has 115 endorsing States.