Bangkok: In a landmark development, India and Thailand have elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership, marking a significant step forward in strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors. The announcement was made through a Joint Declaration following wide-ranging discussions between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on the sidelines of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok.

This strategic partnership is built on a shared commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity for both countries and their regions. It also reflects the desire to deepen longstanding ties rooted in shared civilizational, cultural, and linguistic bonds, and the enduring diplomatic relationship spanning 78 years.

Strengthening Defence and Security Cooperation

A key highlight of the agreement is the decision to enhance existing defence mechanisms and promote deeper collaboration in areas such as defence technology, industry, research, training, exchanges, joint exercises, and capacity building. Both sides agreed to establish appropriate frameworks to facilitate this cooperation.

Security cooperation will be further bolstered through regular dialogue and exchanges between respective security and law enforcement agencies. Notably, a new strategic dialogue at the level of Deputy National Security Adviser or Secretary General will be initiated between Thailand’s National Security Council and India’s National Security Council Secretariat. The cooperation will focus on both traditional and non-traditional security issues, including maritime security, cybersecurity, counter-terrorism, and combating transnational organized crime such as trafficking, economic crimes, and cybercrimes.

A Shared Vision for the Indo-Pacific

The Joint Declaration reaffirmed both countries’ shared vision of a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region, with strong support for ASEAN centrality. The leaders also emphasized closer collaboration between the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), including Thailand’s co-leadership with Australia in the Maritime Ecology Pillar of the IPOI.

Expanding Economic and Trade Relations

Building on a robust trade relationship that reached approximately USD 15 billion in 2023–24, both nations agreed to further expand trade and investment ties. Emphasis will be placed on sustainable and future-oriented industries such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, digital technology, robotics, ICT, space, biotechnology, the creative economy, and startups.

Regular meetings between the respective ministries of commerce under the Joint Trade Committee mechanism will be organized to address market access issues, resolve trade barriers, and build confidence among the private sectors. Cooperation in the harmonization and mutual recognition of standards in selected sectors was also agreed upon to better integrate both economies into global supply chains.

Targeted sectors for sustainable trade expansion include value-added marine products, smartphones, electric vehicles, food processing, petroleum products, auto components, pharmaceuticals, and services.

Boosting Connectivity and Regional Integration

India and Thailand pledged to enhance all modes of connectivity—physical, digital, and financial—between the two nations. They committed to expedite work on the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and its eastward extension, and push forward the India-Myanmar-Thailand Motor Vehicles Agreement. Strengthening maritime connectivity through coastal shipping and port-to-port linkages was also discussed, alongside encouraging civil aviation authorities to explore avenues for enhanced air connectivity.

Wider Bilateral Cooperation

The Strategic Partnership encompasses collaboration in key areas such as science and technology, education, innovation, space, health, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. Both countries welcomed the establishment of an India-Thailand Consular Dialogue and the exchange of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during the summit.

To ensure timely and effective implementation of the Strategic Partnership, both sides agreed to task their respective foreign ministries to coordinate with relevant agencies and formulate a Joint Plan of Action.