BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand joined a reception hosted by the Embassy of Japan and the Office of the Defense Attaché in Bangkok on July 23 to celebrate Japan Self-Defense Forces Day, with scores of senior government officials and private-sector representatives attending. Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Vijavat Isarabhakdi and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Jittawan Wangsupakitkosol were among the Thai guests. The reception, held at The Ritz-Carlton Bangkok, reaffirmed the longstanding security and defense relationship between Thailand and Japan and provided an opportunity for military and government representatives to exchange views and expand professional cooperation. An exhibition featured Japanese defense equipment, advanced technologies, and capabilities in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Video messages from Japan Self-Defense Forces Joint Staff Chief General Hiroaki Uchikura and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi highlighted military education ties between the two countries. More than 400 Thai military cadets have studied at Japan’s National Defense Academy under a long-running exchange program, with graduates serving in the armed forces of both nations. Thailand and Japan established diplomatic relations in 1887, and bilateral ties enter their 139th year in 2026. The two countries continue to cooperate across a wide range of fields, including defense, disaster response, trade, investment, culture, and public communication, while supporting regional security and stability. (NNT)
