Maris lays out Thailand’s priorities in world ‘becoming increasingly divided’

Thailand should use multilateral cooperation frameworks to enhance its leadership on the global stage, Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said in an exclusive interview with Nation Group media.

Maris, who was also the foreign minister in the previous administration of prime minister Srettha Thavisin, spoke about the rapidly changing global landscape, and the impact of the US presidential election.

He highlighted the challenge of maintaining Thailand's neutrality without appearing to take sides — a delicate balance but achievable if done properly.

Maris noted that as a career diplomat, rather than a politician, he feels a sense of pressure. However, he emphasised that his work prioritises national interests above all.

US election and its impact on Thailand

Maris said that Thailand-US relations had been long-standing and strong, and hence would not be unaffected by changes in leadership in either country. The Treaty of Amity underscores the importance of this relationship.

In the past, Thailand primarily aligned with the US, but in the new global scenario, marked by numerous geopolitical issues, Thailand has gradually developed a collective approach. The Bangkok Declaration, signed on August 8, 1967, established the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has since grown increasingly significant as ASEAN is now Thailand’s largest trading partner.

"Given today’s fragmented world, we need to harness collective strength to ensure Thailand’s survival amidst global tensions. No matter who leads the US or Thailand, our sustainable relationship with the US must continue," he added.

Maris addressed concerns about ex-president Donald Trump’s return to office, especially with his America First and Make America Great Again policies. He said that both countries would need to discuss how to promote mutual interests. In setting foreign policy, both bilateral and multilateral frameworks are essential and should be considered together.

"The world is once again becoming increasingly divided," he said.

"Protectionism is bound to return in the future because international mechanisms are no longer effective," the minister said, adding that Thailand’s key principles for maintaining its position on the world stage are to uphold international law and the United Nations Charter.

"There’s no other way because we are a small country," the minister said, explaining that these two principles would enable Thailand to play a leading role in global affairs with a clear stance, prioritising national and public interests.

Thailand's role in multilateral frameworks

Currently, Thailand is actively participating in several multilateral cooperation frameworks. For example, on October 30, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) launched the process for Thailand’s potential membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with the organisation’s secretary-general, Mathias Cormann. 

Thailand has also expressed interest in joining BRICS, an alliance of emerging economies, or the "Global South”. The minister noted that Thailand has made significant progress, reaching the status of a new economy, and these multilateral partnerships would further emphasise Thailand's role.

However, despite Thailand’s active participation in diverse multilateral frameworks, joining certain groups has sparked criticism that Thailand is "taking sides". The minister clarified that Thailand has always maintained friendships without enemies, enjoying positive bilateral relations with countries such as Iran, Russia, India, and China, as well as long-standing close relations with the United States and the West.

"Nevertheless, we must have a clear stance. The Global South is crucial for Thailand, representing a large and significant group. While we maintain friendly relations with all nations, our guiding stance is national interest. Anything that does not comply with international law and the UN Charter must be addressed."

The minister cited an incident last week when rockets were fired into Israel, resulting in the deaths of four Thai nationals and one injured. He sent a letter to Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, reminding them that Thailand, recently elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council, has a duty to take a stand on such critical issues. He urged restraint to prevent further escalation of the conflict and called for all parties to cease actions that could lead to war, urging negotiations to resolve the conflict based on international law and the UN Charter. Thailand’s stance remains focused on the national and public interest.

Regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, Maris reiterated that Thailand has consistently supported the "two-state solution".