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Thailand’s Myanmar Outreach Fails to Shift ASEAN Stance, Experts say
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Thailand failed to alter Myanmar’s position amid ASEAN demands despite bilateral gains, according to political experts.
Key facts
- Myanmar’s coup leader-turned-civilian president, Min Aung Hlaing's visit to Thailand at the Thailand-Myanmar business summit in August was closely monitored for the outcomes of the talks and Thailand’s position between Myanmar and ASEAN.
- According to the government spokesperson, Thailand has relied on Myanmar as a key source of natural gas from the Yadana and Zawtika fields for almost 40 years, accounting for 15%-20% of the country’s demand.
- Since the 2021 coup, those ties have also been complicated by fighting, refugee flows, disrupted border trade and transboundary pollution.
- Her government was seized by ex-coup leader Min Aung Hlaing back in 2021.
- Since the 2021 coup, Myanmar has faced growing economic hardship, while control over parts of the country has become increasingly fragmented among competing armed groups.
- That could become an even more important issue in 2028, when Thailand is scheduled to chair ASEAN.
Summary
Myanmar’s coup leader-turned-civilian president, Min Aung Hlaing's visit to Thailand at the Thailand-Myanmar business summit in August was closely monitored for the outcomes of the talks and Thailand’s position between Myanmar and ASEAN.
Thailand and Myanmar share a more than 2,400-kilometre border, with longstanding ties in trade, security and migration. Since the 2021 coup, those ties have also been complicated by fighting, refugee flows, disrupted border trade and transboundary pollution.