Policy Statement of the Council of Ministers (excerpts on Foreign Policy)

6. Accelerating efforts to bolster Thailand’s status and standing in the global arena. The Government will pursue a multi-dimensional and multi-directional foreign policy that extends ‘Beyond Thailand’, aimed at playing a proactive and constructive role on the world stage that is anchored in the multilateral system, particularly the United Nations framework, the principles of international law, and universal principles and values. This will enable Thailand to assume a leading role in steering ASEAN to address challenges arising from a shifting global landscape, especially during Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship in B.E. 2571 (2028).

7. Enhancing stability by upholding Thailand’s interests and maintaining constructive engagement with all players in a multipolar world, while deepening relations with middle powers and new partners across various regions, to generate alternatives and enhance flexibility in balancing relations among different global power poles.

8. Advancing economic diplomacy to expand opportunities for the Thai people and businesses through an integrated “Team Thailand” approach, both domestically and internationally. This includes expediting Thailand’s pursuit of membership to the OECD by B.E. 2571 (2028) to enhance national competitiveness, elevating industrial and service standards to international levels, and driving science, research and innovation diplomacy. These efforts aim to build global confidence, position Thailand within critical global supply chains, and promote the creative economy and Thainess.

9. Promoting border security to be free from all forms of threats and addressing cross-border challenges through cooperation with neighbouring countries and countries in the region in order to ensure tranquillity for Thai society, by

        9.1 Preventing, monitoring and preparing measures to mitigate impacts from threats originating both within and outside of the Kingdom, particularly regarding border security, narcotics, scammers and environmental challenges. This includes developing integrated data-sharing and information exchange systems and constructing border barriers to comprehensively manage threats ranging from smuggling, drug trafficking and illegal labour to scammer networks, illegal forest burning and illicit mining. Furthermore, the Government will strengthen relations and cooperation with neighbouring countries and play a constructive role in promoting regional stability.

        9.2 Continuing efforts to resolve the Thailand - Cambodia situation through peaceful means and existing bilateral mechanisms, including expediting the study of approaches to terminate the Memorandum of Understanding between the Royal Thai Government and the Royal Government of Cambodia regarding the Area of their Overlapping Maritime Claims to the Continental Shelf [MoU B.E. 2544 (2001)] at the earliest opportunity.

        9.3 Resolving issues in the three Southern Border Provinces by adopting the Royal Initiative of “Understand, Reach Out and Develop” as the guiding principle to restore lasting stability to the Southern Border area.

10. Ensuring the safety of life and property to protect the people from all forms of crime such as narcotics, fraud, terrorism, cyber scams and money laundering, through the following measures: …

        10.3 Reviewing visa exemption schemes and related legislation to align with international agreements. This aims to sever the financial lifelines of scammer networks and all forms of transnational criminals, including money laundering and “grey capital” operations.