PM Inaugurates Defence Exhibition, Pushes Self-Reliance

NONTHABURI — Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul inaugurated the Thailand Defence Industry Exhibition 2026 (THAIDEF-EX 2026) on Tuesday morning, underscoring the government's commitment to strengthening domestic defence capabilities and promoting economic self-reliance amid shifting global geopolitical dynamics. The opening ceremony was held at 08:00 on July 8, 2026, at the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence in Si Saman, Pak Kret district, Nonthaburi.

Anutin, who also serves as interior minister, arrived at the venue standing atop a First Win mine-resistant armoured vehicle alongside Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Adul Boonthamcharoen. Several senior cabinet members attended the event, including Deputy Prime Ministers Suphajee Suthumpun and Yoschanan Wongsawat, as well as Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa and other government officials.

In his address, Anutin emphasized that the exhibition demonstrates Thailand's readiness to safeguard national sovereignty while building economic resilience through greater self-reliance. He noted that the global landscape has shifted dramatically, with geopolitical conflicts disrupting international trade, investment and supply chains that once operated freely.

"Many countries are now prioritizing self-reliance to ensure security and sustainable production rather than depending on imports," Anutin said.

The prime minister argued that developing Thailand's defence industry would strengthen national security while creating opportunities to advance technology, upgrade manufacturing capabilities and generate greater economic value. He highlighted Thailand's manufacturing capacity and strategic location as positioning the country to become a competitive production hub for defence technologies in the global market.

Anutin characterized THAIDEF-EX 2026 as a major milestone in Thailand's industrial development, stating that investment in the defence sector would encourage research, high-technology development, engineering and innovation while opening doors for Thai entrepreneurs to move into higher-value industries.

He noted that many technologies in widespread use today, including unmanned aerial vehicles, satellite navigation systems and advanced materials, originated from defence-related research before being adapted for commercial and civilian applications.

Stressing that defence industry investment should be viewed as an investment in both national security and Thailand's future economic competitiveness, Anutin expressed confidence that Thailand has the potential to become one of the region's leading producers of defence technology. He pledged continued cooperation between domestic and international partners to establish an integrated ecosystem.