INDIA-THAILAND
- India and Thailand's strategic partnership is designed to expand collaboration across multiple domains, including defence, security, cybercrime prevention, maritime security, trade, investment, innovation, start-ups, renewable energy, education, tourism, and cultural exchanges.
- The two nations have agreed to establish new institutional mechanisms for high-level engagement, such as strategic consultations between their respective National Security Councils and strengthened defence cooperation through joint training programs, technology sharing, and industrial partnerships.
- Trade remains a central component of their bilateral relationship, offering both opportunities and challenges. Although Thailand ranks as India's fourth-largest trading partner among ASEAN countries, the growing trade imbalance highlights the importance of achieving more equitable commercial ties.
- India has sought broader access for its agricultural goods, pharmaceutical products, and services, while also exploring local currency trade settlements to buffer against currency fluctuations.
- Given the current global economic uncertainties, both countries recognize the importance of closer coordination to shield their economic ties from external disruptions. Joint efforts are now directed toward emerging sectors such as electric mobility, digital financial systems, financial technology, space exploration, and sustainable economic models like the circular economy.
- Additionally, both sides have committed to fast-tracking the revision of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to make it more accessible and business-friendly, aiming for significant progress by the end of 2025.
- Nonetheless, efforts to boost investment, dismantle non-tariff barriers, and harmonize regulatory frameworks will be critical to keeping pace with evolving economic dynamics
- Thailand’s strategic location enhances its importance in advancing India’s Act East Policy and the broader Indo-Pacific vision. Positioned as a gateway to mainland ASEAN and sharing maritime boundaries in the Andaman Sea, Thailand presents opportunities for both trilateral and multilateral maritime cooperation.
- With its robust infrastructure and active involvement in regional organisations like ASEAN, BIMSTEC, the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC), and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Thailand plays a pivotal role in promoting regional stability and linking South and Southeast Asia.
- India’s Indo-Pacific strategy similarly aligns with ASEAN Centrality and leverages multilateral groupings such as the East Asia Summit, IORA, and the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) to shape its regional outreach.
- Both nations have reiterated their shared commitment to a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. This shared vision is anchored in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), with Thailand co-leading the Maritime Ecology Pillar of the IPOI alongside Australia, adding depth to their strategic partnership.
- This alignment between bilateral and regional efforts highlights how India’s multilateral engagement is reinforced through cooperation with partners like Thailand, especially in countering strategic challenges such as China’s growing influence in maritime areas. The Bay of Bengal and the BIMSTEC forum stand out as key arenas where this cooperation takes shap
- The Bay of Bengal has increasingly become a focal point for strategic collaboration and economic engagement. The BIMSTEC grouping—where both India and Thailand, as founding members and the region’s largest economies, play central roles—forms the backbone of regional cooperation. The adoption of the BIMSTEC Charter and the Master Plan for Transport Connectivity reflects renewed momentum in this direction.
- During the 6th BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok in April 2025, India and Thailand jointly advocated for the expedited implementation of the Motor Vehicles Agreement, along with improvements in coastal shipping and direct port connectivity.
- These efforts aim to enhance regional trade and mobility and are crucial for linking India’s Northeastern states with Southeast Asia. They also align with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR).
- India’s increasing focus on BIMSTEC represents a strategic shift within its neighbourhood-first approach, especially in light of the stagnation within SAARC.
- Initiatives like the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway illustrate how BIMSTEC is evolving into a practical platform for advancing regional integration and offering a counterbalance to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
- Furthermore, BIMSTEC enables India and Thailand to work together in tackling cross-border challenges such as terrorism, cyber threats, human trafficking, and illegal trade, by fostering shared security frameworks
While India and Thailand's strategic ties have gained momentum, several hurdles persist. One major issue is India’s substantial trade deficit with Thailand, which highlights the need for broader market access for Indian exports and diversification in traded commodities.
Another challenge lies in infrastructure bottlenecks and administrative delays that slow the progress of key connectivity projects like the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway. Political instability in Myanmar adds further uncertainty. Additionally, inconsistencies in regulatory frameworks and the absence of mutual recognition of standards and certifications may hamper seamless economic cooperation.
China’s growing economic and strategic footprint in the Bay of Bengal also underscores the need for enhanced collaboration between India and Thailand to protect shared maritime interests and uphold regional sovereignty.
To strengthen their partnership, both nations must prioritize the execution of the Joint Plan of Action, encourage joint defence manufacturing and technology exchange, remove non-tariff barriers, and deepen cooperation in sectors such as clean energy, artificial intelligence, financial technology, and space exploration. Engaging stakeholders like the private sector, academia, and young professionals in joint initiatives can further enrich bilateral ties.
Ultimately, as the Bay of Bengal emerges as a strategic hub within the Indo-Pacific, Thailand plays a vital role in India’s engagement with ASEAN and the wider region. Anchoring bilateral goals within regional and global frameworks positions both countries to foster a dynamic, collaborative, and strategically resilient form of Asian regionalism
| For Prelims: Thailand, Monarchy, lesemajeste laws, Military rule |
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Previous Year Questions
1. What is the correct sequence of occurrence of the following cities in South-East Asia as one proceeds from south to north? (UPSC 2014)
1. Bangkok
2. Hanoi
3. Jakarta
4. Singapore
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
A. 4-2-1-3 B. 3-2-4-1 C. 3-4-1-2 D. 4-3-2-1
Answer: C
2. Which of the following are regarded as the main features of the "Rule of Law"? (UPSC 2018)
1. Limitation of powers
2. Equality before law
3. People's responsibility to the Government
4. Liberty and civil rights
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 and 3 only B. 2 and 4 only C. 1, 2 and 4 only D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: C
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