Thailand has expressed support for Myanmar’s efforts to restore normal relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), after years of isolation following the 2021 military coup.
According to reports, Thailand’s foreign minister said Bangkok wants to play a leading role in helping Myanmar re-engage with the regional bloc, but stressed that this depends on Myanmar addressing key concerns raised by ASEAN.
Myanmar’s current leadership, headed by President Min Aung Hlaing, came to power after the coup and has since formalised control through a military-backed election that has not been widely recognised internationally.
The ongoing civil conflict and lack of democratic reforms have strained ties with ASEAN, which has largely barred the country’s top leadership from high-level meetings, although it still retains some representation within the bloc.
Thailand welcomed recent steps by Myanmar, such as granting amnesty to thousands of prisoners and easing the sentence of former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, describing them as positive signals.
However, it emphasised that more progress is needed, particularly in reducing violence and advancing dialogue.
Myanmar has pledged to pursue peace and reconciliation, but key opposition groups have rejected talks, leaving its full reintegration into ASEAN uncertain ahead of an upcoming regional summit.
