Diplomats celebrate 75 years of connections between Thailand and Indonesia.
Rewritten Article:
Celebrating 75 years of diplomatic ties, Thailand and Indonesia are forging ahead with a joint mission to combat transnational crimes and secure regional peace. High-ranking officials emphasize the need for increased collaboration in key areas like defence, economy, and people-to-people relations.
Speaking at a recent public forum, Mirza Nurhidayat, the director of Southeast Asian affairs at the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry, highlighted the urgent need to tackle transnational crimes in the region. With over 600 Indonesians falling prey to scammers based in Myanmar, stronger security cooperation seems crucial to prevent future occurrences.
Among other actions, Mr. Nurhidayat suggested joint efforts to counter technology-driven crimes and share criminal case details. He also underscored Indonesia's commitment to the ASEAN's five-point consensus on Myanmar and appealed to Thailand's support in driving the agenda forward.
Beyond security, student exchange programs might strengthen people-to-people relations, preparing a more skilled workforce for both nations. Additionally, promoting trade in strategic business sectors could boost bilateral trade and create a conducive and friendly business atmosphere.
On the Thai side, Suwit Mangkhala, the Thai MFA's ASEAN Affairs Department Deputy Director-General, emphasized the longstanding relationship between the two countries. He believed that this relationship could help bridge the differences and gaps in the current geopolitical landscape, making ASEAN a more significant player on the global stage.
The strategic partnership between Thailand and Indonesia is evolving rapidly. During the 10th Joint Commission meeting in 2025, the two nations elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership and established a joint working team to create a roadmap for partnership deliverables, focusing on green energy transition and expanded market access for Indonesian agricultural and fisheries products.
In addition to these efforts, both countries are working closely to combat human trafficking, enhance cybercrime coordination, engage in Myanmar crisis diplomacy, and bolster educational and defence collaboration.
Collaborative measures include repatriating trafficking victims, sharing criminal case details, implementing the ASEAN's five-point consensus on Myanmar, fostering green energy partnerships, and expanding market access for small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). These strategies demonstrate a multifaceted approach blending security, economic, and diplomatic tools to address regional challenges.
| Focus Area | Key Actions | Mechanism ||-----------------|----------------|--------------|| Human Trafficking | Victim repatriation, joint prosecution | JCM working team, ASEAN conventions || Cybercrime | Case data exchange, tech abuse prevention | Bilateral security dialogues || Myanmar Diplomacy | ASEAN consensus implementation, humanitarian coordination | ASEAN-led initiatives || Economic-Security Nexus | Green energy partnerships, MSME market access | Strategic partnership roadmap |
Together, Thailand and Indonesia are taking a proactive stance to maintain regional peace and stability, demonstrating a unified front against transnational crimes and ensuring long-lasting prosperity in the Southeast Asian region.
- In the context of ASEAN, Indonesian Director of Southeast Asian affairs, Mirza Nurhidayat, has emphasized the importance of combating scammers across the region, especially those based in Myanmar, as over 600 Indonesians have fallen victim.
- As part of their joint mission, Thailand and Indonesia plan to implement an educational strategy, featuring student exchange programs that aim to improve people-to-people relations and cultivate a more skilled workforce.
- In light of regional issues like war and conflicts, politics, general news, and crime and justice, the collaboration between Thailand and Indonesia extends beyond security to include efforts in Myanmar crisis diplomacy and humanitarian coordination.
- To ensure regional stability, Suwit Mangkhala, Thai MFA's ASEAN Affairs Department Deputy Director-General, advocates a comprehensive approach that addresses not only security aspects but also the economic-security nexus by focusing on green energy transition and increased market access for Indonesian agricultural and fisheries products.
- In keeping with their commitment, both Thailand and Indonesia are committing to not only tackling pressing concerns such as scammers and human trafficking but also looking ahead to the potential of celebrating ASEAN's future anniversary, demonstrating vision and unity in addressing future challenges in the Southeast Asian region.
