The foreign relations of Thailand are handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.
Thailand participates fully in international and regional organizations. It has developed close ties with other ASEAN members—Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Laos, and Vietnam—whose foreign and economic ministers hold annual meetings. Regional cooperation is progressing in economic, trade, banking, political, and cultural matters. In 2003, Thailand served as APEC host. Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, served as Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) from 2005 until 31 August 2015. In 2005 Thailand attended the inaugural East Asia Summit.
Since the military coup of May 2014, Thailand's global reputation has plunged, according to Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University. He maintains that, "When the fourth anniversary of Thailand's coup comes to pass later this month [May 2018], Thailand's foreign relations will be one of the many costs to be counted from the military government....Instead of moving ahead in its relations with the outside world, Thailand has regressed to a standstill.
Disputes Parts of the border with Laos are undefined. A maritime boundary dispute with Vietnam was resolved in August 1997. Parts of the maritime border with Cambodia are disputed. Sporadic conflict with Myanmar over alignment of border.
Diplomatic relations List of countries which Thailand maintains diplomatic relations with: #CountryDate123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263—646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111 —112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171172173174175176177178179180181182183184 —185186187188189190 — — —191192
Asia ASEAN Country Formal relations beganNotes1 January 1984See Brunei–Thailand relations
Brunei has an embassy in Bangkok, and Thailand has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan. The relations have always been close and cordial. Both countries are also members of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.19 December 1950See Cambodia–Thailand relations
Parts of Cambodia's border with Thailand are indefinite, and the maritime boundary with Thailand is not clearly defined. On 5 November 2009 Thailand recalled its ambassador from Cambodia in protest of the Cambodian government's appointment of Thai ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic advisor. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva stated that this was "the first diplomatic retaliation measure" against the appointment. He also said that Cambodia was interfering in Thai internal affairs and as a result bi-lateral co-operation agreements would be reviewed. The Cambodian government has stated that it would refuse any extradition request from Thailand for Thaksin as it considered him to be a victim of political persecution. In the months leading up to the Cambodian decision, troops from both nations had clashed over territory claimed by both countries immediately adjacent to Preah Vihear, an 11th-century Hindu temple, leading to a deterioration in relations. At 20:30 on 5 November Cambodia announced that it was withdrawing its ambassador from Thailand as a retaliatory measure. Sok An, a member of the Council of Ministers and Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia, said that the appointment of Thaksin is a decision internal to Cambodia and that it "conforms to international practice". The mutual withdrawal of ambassadors is the most severe diplomatic action to have occurred between the two countries. Thailand has an embassy in Phnom Penh, while Cambodia has an embassy in Bangkok.7 March 1950See Indonesia–Thailand relations Indonesia and Thailand are viewed as natural allies. Indonesia is Thailand's third most important trade partner within ASEAN, with bilateral trade worth $8.7 billion in 2007. Trade between the two countries is set to grow over the years. Following the military takeover of the government in Thailand in May 2014, Indonesia supports the restoration of democracy in Thailand. Indonesia urged the military and civilian elements in Thailand to work together to quickly restore the political situation in Thailand. Thailand has an embassy in Jakarta and honorary consulates in Denpasar, Medan and Surabaya. Indonesia has an embassy in Bangkok and a consulate in Songkhla. Both countries are also members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Non-Aligned Movement, Cairns Group, Indian-Ocean Rim Association and G20 developing nations.19 December 1950See Laos–Thailand relations In some respects, Thailand can be seen as a greater threat to Laos's independence than Vietnam because of its closer cultural affinity, its easier access, and its control over the railroad and highway routes to the sea. The Mekong River, which both sides have an interest in making a "river of true peace and friendship" — as their respective prime ministers called for in 1976 – also provides a north–south artery during the rainy season.Brown, MacAlister and Joseph J. Zasloff. "Relations with Thailand". Laos: a country study (Andrea Matles Savada, editor). Library of Congress Federal Research Division (July 1994). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Thailand has an embassy in Vientiane and a consulate-general in Savannakhet. Laos has an embassy in Bangkok and a consulate-general in Khon Kaen.31 August 1957See Malaysia–Thailand relations
Thailand has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and consulate-general offices in George Town and Kota Bharu. Malaysia maintains an embassy in Bangkok. Recently, Thai-Malay relations have soured considerably due to the ethnically Malay Pattani separatists in three southern provinces of Thailand. There have been claims by some Thai politicians that certain parties in Malaysia has taken an interest in the cause of their opponents in the war, which is vehemently disputed by the latter. Both countries also members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Non-Aligned Movement, Cairns Group and Indian-Ocean Rim Association.24 August 1948See Myanmar–Thailand relations Myanmar has an embassy in Bangkok and a consulate-general in Chiang Mai. Thailand has an embassy in Yangon.Burmese embassy in Bangkok Thai embassy in Burma 14 June 1949See Philippines–Thailand relations Thailand is one of the Philippines' major trading partners and one of the Philippines' rice suppliers. Relations continue to be strengthened through talks and agreements on economic, security, and cultural matters including concerns on rice trading, and combatting drugs and human trafficking. Thailand has an embassy in Manila and an honorary consulate in Cebu. The Philippines has an embassy in Bangkok. Both countries are the only Major non-NATO Allies in Southeast Asia. Both countries are also members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Non-Aligned Movement, Cairns Group and G20 developing nations together with Indonesia. A Treaty of Friendship was signed by both countries on June 14, 1949.20 September 1965See Singapore–Thailand relations
Bilateral relations between the two nations formally date to 1965, when Thailand established diplomatic relations soon after the independence of Singapore. Both countries share close defence ties, regularly sending personnel for cross training and holding various annual exercises between Singapore Armed Forces and Royal Thai Armed Forces. Thailand has an embassy in Singapore. Singapore has an embassy in Bangkok. Both countries are also members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Non-Aligned Movement and Indian-Ocean Rim Association.6 August 1976See Thailand–Vietnam relations
Diplomatic relations between the two countries have existed since 1976, and are very friendly both economically and politically nowadays. Yet, relations between the two countries had always been marred by discord, which resulted from bitter rivalry to gain control of the area of what is today Laos and Cambodia. In the 19th century, Thailand (then known as Siam) had fought a series of wars with the Nguyễn dynasty which then ruled over Vietnam over control of Cambodia. This rivalry will only temporarily subside when French colonists stepped in and gradually building an establishment in Southeast Asia, known as French Indochina. During the Vietnam War, Thailand was aligned with South Vietnam and the United States and the U Tapao Air Base was used as a base for USAF aircraft. During the Fall of Saigon in 1975, fleeing South Vietnamese pilots arrived at U Tapao before fleeing to other countries. In 1979, when the Khmer Rouge government in neighbouring Cambodia was toppled, this had raised concerns in Thailand and the Thai government quickly allied itself with the Khmer Rouge, later the CGDK, in fear of Vietnamese expansionism. In fact, Thailand was foremost among the ASEAN, of which it is part of, in opposing the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia. Cambodian refugees soon stayed at border camps straddling the Thai-Cambodian border, and these camps are often controlled by the Khmer Rouge or the CGDK. In the years that followed, Vietnam launched a series of raids on the camps and Vietnamese troops often penetrated into Thai territory and shelled Thai border villages and towns. Thailand has an embassy in Hanoi and a consulate-general in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam has an embassy in Bangkok and a consulate-general in Khon Kaen. Both countries are also members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Non-Aligned Movement.
Rest of Asia Country Formal Relations BeganNotes17 January 1977Historically, Bahrain and Thailand shared mutual common of historical civilizations developed in both countries. Since the 1990s, Thailand and Bahrain signed a major framework on economic cooperation, thus effectively making them important economic partners. Today, Thailand is a major investor in Bahrain. In March 2019, Bahraini Prime Minister and Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, during his participation in the Thai Culture and Food Festival held in capital Manama, praised Thailand and expressed wish to promote the relations. Thailand has an embassy in Manama. Bahrain has an embassy in Bangkok.5 October 1972See Bangladesh–Thailand relations Relations are considered close and cordial and have made strides to improve trade and investment between the two countries. Diplomatic relations were established on 5 October 1972 and Thailand opened its embassy in 1974 followed by Bangladesh setting up their own in Bangkok in the following year. The first visit between the two countries was President Ziaur Rahman's visit to Thailand in 1979 followed by Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda in 1983. Other Heads of States like Ershad visited in 1985, 1988 and 1990 and Thaksin Shinawatra in July and December 2002 and January 2004. Thailand is a key country in Bangladesh's "Look East" policy and relations have begun to increase and diversify into different areas. They seek not to intervene in each other's internal matters as shown by their response to the events occurring in their own respective countries in 2006 such as the 2006 Thai coup d'état and 2006–2008 Bangladeshi political crisis. Both have considerable cooperation in summits organised by BIMSTEC and the ASEAN regional forum. Upper class and upper middle class Bangladeshis often go to Thailand for medical treatment and operations that the country's medical infrastructure cannot provide.14 November 1989See Bhutan–Thailand relations Diplomatic relations between both countries have grown stronger over the years. Bhutan and Thailand also promote cooperation in the field of education. Bhutan has an embassy in Bangkok.1 July 1975See China–Thailand relations