BANGKOK, Thailand – Minister of Defense Lieutenant General Adul Boonthumjaroen welcomed the Ambassador of Japan to Thailand to discuss expanding bilateral defense and security cooperation, reaffirming the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations. On May 22, 2026, the Defense Minister received a courtesy call from Ambassador of Japan to Thailand Otaka Masato at the Ministry of Defense. The meeting congratulated the Minister on his recent appointment and explored ways to advance military-to-military cooperation.
Both sides commended the long-standing, robust relations between Thailand and Japan, which will mark the 140th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2027. They reaffirmed their commitment to deepening ties under the comprehensive strategic partnership framework, with a focus on national defense and technology collaboration. The Minister expressed gratitude to the Government of Japan for providing defense logistics and capacity-building support through the Official Security Assistance (OSA) program. Both leaders also welcomed the upcoming co-chairmanship of Thailand and Japan over the Experts’ Working Group on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief under the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) framework for the 2027 to 2030 cycle.
The high-level talks evaluated security developments along the Thai-Cambodian border and outlined joint strategies to combat transnational crimes. Both parties emphasized the urgent need to neutralize regional online scam networks and call center syndicates that threaten public safety and financial security across Southeast Asia. The Ministry of Defense noted this engagement underscores a mutual determination to secure concrete security outcomes that ensure long-term regional stability. (NNT)
