The 9th India-Thailand Defense Dialogue was held in New Delhi on Thursday. The meeting was jointly chaired by Joint Secretary for International Cooperation Amitabh Prasad and Thailand’s Deputy Secretary General of Defense Tharapong Malakam.
During the talks, the two sides agreed to establish a joint task force to oversee and monitor cooperation in the defense industry. They also decided to start a dialogue between subject matter experts from the two countries’ armies.
Amitabh Prasad highlighted the capabilities of India’s domestic defense industry and its potential to contribute to Thailand’s defense procurement initiatives. General Malakam acknowledged the productivity of India’s defense ecosystem and suggested exploring cooperation in co-design, co-production, and co-development.
“The dialogue is an important milestone in strengthening the defense relationship with Thailand. Thailand is a maritime neighbor and a key partner in India’s ‘Act East’ Policy and the Indo-Pacific region. Thailand’s ‘Act West’ policy complements India’s ‘Act East’ policy . . , which provides the basis for a greater level of bilateral relations,” reads an official statement issued by the government.
Earlier in the day, General Malakam laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi to honor the fallen soldiers. The Thai delegation also visited the National Museum, where they paid respect to the holy relics of Lord Buddha.
As part of the visit, the delegation is scheduled to meet with officials at the headquarters of the Defense Research and Development Organization to explore joint efforts in defense production and research.
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