Thailand Pushes Myanmar Peace as Essential to ASEAN Unity

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told more than 100 diplomats at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on Tuesday that Thailand's gradual re-engagement policy with Myanmar is beginning to show progress. He highlighted Monday's visit by the International Committee of the Red Cross to detained former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi—the first such humanitarian access granted since her detention—as evidence that the approach is moving in the right direction.

Anutin reaffirmed that ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus remains the bloc's main framework for addressing the Myanmar crisis, while advocating for continued "calibrated re-engagement" with Myanmar's authorities. This strategy aims to keep dialogue channels open, maintain engagement with stakeholders, and encourage tangible progress while responding to ground realities.

He stressed that a peaceful and stable Myanmar is not only in Thailand's national interest as a neighboring country but also essential to ASEAN unity and regional stability. Anutin also announced that Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to restore mutual trust and continue bilateral dialogue.

Beyond Myanmar, Anutin outlined three priorities for ASEAN: strengthening regionalism, building resilience against geopolitical and economic uncertainty, and ensuring the bloc delivers tangible benefits to its people. He called for reinforcing supply chain, food, and energy security; accelerating digital connectivity; and deepening cooperation with middle powers and Global South nations to preserve the region's strategic autonomy.

Anutin noted that his address was the first by a Thai prime minister at the ASEAN Secretariat in 17 years. He said ASEAN's 60th anniversary next year presents an opportunity to chart a new course for the regional bloc, with Thailand ready to take a leading role.