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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on April 15, 2025

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India-Thailand relations

For Preliminary Examination:  Current events of national and international Significance

For Mains Examination: GS II - International relations

Context:

The recent elevation of the India-Thailand bilateral relationship to the strategic level reflects a smart foreign policy move in New Delhi’s regional and international diplomacy, indicating the growing weight of Southeast Asia in its strategic calculus. As India deepens its Act East policy and expands its Indo-Pacific engagement, Thailand emerges as a key partner, bound by longstanding historical and cultural ties and shared strategic concerns. 

Read about:

India-Thailand deepening relation

BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation)

Key takeaways:

• The recent upgrade of India-Thailand relations to a strategic partnership marks a calculated move in New Delhi’s regional and global diplomacy, highlighting the increasing strategic importance of Southeast Asia in India’s foreign policy priorities.
• As India advances its Act East Policy and deepens its involvement in the Indo-Pacific region, Thailand stands out as a crucial ally, rooted in shared cultural heritage, historical bonds, and mutual strategic interests.
• During his official visit to Thailand on April 3, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted Thailand’s central role in India’s Act East Policy and its significance within India’s Indo-Pacific framework.
• This elevation of bilateral ties goes beyond symbolic gestures, representing a convergence of bilateral efforts and multilateral cooperation to promote regional peace, economic integration, and collective security.
• This enhanced cooperation is built upon a joint vision of a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. It focuses on improved regional connectivity and the strengthening of institutions such as BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation).

Expanding Areas of Bilateral Collaboration

• The strategic engagement between India and Thailand spans multiple sectors, including defence, security, maritime safety, cybercrime prevention, innovation, trade and investment, start-ups, education, renewable energy, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
• Both countries have committed to institutionalizing new dialogue mechanisms, including strategic consultations between their respective National Security Councils and enhanced defence cooperation through technology sharing, joint military training, and industrial collaboration.
• Although trade remains a vital element of the relationship, challenges such as India’s persistent trade deficit with Thailand must be addressed. India is advocating for increased access to Thai markets for its agricultural goods, pharmaceuticals, and services. Additionally, both sides are exploring the use of local currencies in bilateral trade to buffer against global currency fluctuations.
• In light of current global uncertainties, India and Thailand are also shifting focus toward next-generation industries such as electric vehicles, digital payments, fintech, space technology, and the circular economy.

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