Indonesia and Thailand Agree to Elevate Bilateral Ties to Strategic Partnership

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and his Thai counterpart, Maris Sangiampongsa, have agreed to elevate bilateral relations between Indonesia and Thailand to a strategic partnership. The agreement was reached during the 10th Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCM) meeting held in Bangkok on Friday.

“This step reflects our increasingly close bilateral relations and a shared vision to contribute more to the region,” Minister Sugiono stated, emphasizing the significance of the agreement.

As a follow-up to the decision, both nations will establish a joint working team tasked with formulating a roadmap for the strategic partnership. The team will also identify key sectors for potential deliverables, which are expected to be announced during the next high-level visit between the two countries.

In the economic sector, Indonesia and Thailand committed to broadening market access for Indonesian products, particularly those from the agriculture, fisheries, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sectors. Minister Sugiono welcomed Thailand’s growing investment interest in Indonesia and highlighted opportunities for collaboration with strategic Indonesian companies.

The ministers also underscored the importance of pursuing new avenues of cooperation in the green energy transition, acknowledging the urgency of sustainable development across the region.

During the JCM, the two foreign ministers reiterated their commitment to enhancing cooperation in the protection of citizens and in the fight against trafficking in persons. Minister Sugiono expressed appreciation for Thailand’s support in the repatriation of Indonesian victims of trafficking and called for continued joint efforts to eradicate the transnational crime.

Beyond bilateral matters, Ministers Sugiono and Sangiampongsa exchanged views on pressing regional and global issues, including the strengthening of ASEAN’s role in maintaining regional stability, the ongoing situation in Myanmar, and developments in Palestine.

Minister Sugiono described the JCM as “a new foundation for stronger, broader, and more strategic relations between Indonesia and Thailand.”

The 10th JCM marks the continuation of high-level dialogue between the two nations, following the 9th JCM held in Indonesia in 2018. The 2025 meeting also coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Thailand, first established on March 7, 1950.