On 18^th January 2023, H.E. Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Ambassdor of Thailand to the UK and Captain Jaiped Thongduang, Defence and Naval Attaché, jointly hosted a reception on the occasion of the Royal Thai Arm Forces Day 2023 at the Royal Thai Embassy. Major General James Roddis, Director of Strategy, UK Strategic Command, was the guest of honour, representing His Majesty’s Armed Forces.

Ambassador Thongphakdi and Major General Roddis both reflected on the importance of the close Thai-UK strategic partnership, which is based on mutual interest and shared values. Defence and security cooperation has been one of the key pillars of our collaboration, which is set to advance in light of the UK’s proactive engagement with the Indo-Pacific region.

Ambassador Thongphakdi reiterated Thailand’s readiness to bridge UK defence cooperation with ASEAN and the region, both on traditional security issues, such as joint exercise, peacekeeping operations, capacity-building and exchange of best practices, and emerging challenges such as cyber security, disaster relief and environment issues. Both sides welcomed the Thai-UK Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Defence Cooperation, signed in 2022, which will be an important framework to drive closer cooperation in all aspects for the Royal Armed Forces of the two countries and peoples.