The Thai and Vietnamese defense ministries continue to build strategic trust, advancing the 2+2 mechanism and regional cooperation to tackle new forms of threats.
On 9 June 2026, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced that during the official visit of the Prime Minister and his delegation to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from 8 to 9 June 2026, in addition to leadership-level discussions setting the direction for cooperation under the comprehensive strategic partnership framework between Thailand and Vietnam, the security sectors of both countries also took the opportunity to promote defense and security cooperation. This aimed to enhance stability, safety, and the well-being of the people in both nations.
The spokesperson said that Lieutenant General Adul Boonthamcharoen, Minister of Defense, along with senior security officials from Thailand—including the Permanent Secretary of Defense, the Supreme Commander, the Commanders of the Army, Navy, and Air Force—held bilateral talks with General Phan Van Sang, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Vietnam, on 8 June at the Vietnam Ministry of Defense reception room in Hanoi.
The discussions reflected close cooperation between Thailand and Vietnam at all levels—leadership, policy, and military—to promote concrete security collaboration that supports economic development and improves the quality of life for citizens. Key points included:
1. Enhancing defense cooperation
Both sides welcomed the continuous progress in cooperation between the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the Vietnam People's Army, including exchanges of visits, education, training, intelligence sharing, and inter-service collaboration. Particularly, maritime cooperation plays a crucial role in maintaining maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as preventing and combating transnational crime.
2. Cooperation to address emerging threats
The talks also covered new security issues such as cybersecurity, development of the defense industry, military technology research and development, and knowledge exchange on innovation. Both parties are willing to consider expanding cooperation to strengthen the armed forces' capabilities and readiness to face future new forms of threats.
3. Promoting the 2+2 mechanism and regional cooperation
Thailand reaffirmed its readiness to support the organization of 2+2 meetings between the foreign ministers and defense ministers of both countries to reflect their comprehensive strategic partnership and enhance the effectiveness of security cooperation mechanisms. Additionally, Thailand invited Vietnam to participate in the ASEAN–ROK Defence Industry Cooperation Conference and THAIDEF-EX 2026, which Thailand will host in July, to further promote regional defense industry collaboration.
“The discussions between the defense ministers and the service commanders of both countries represent an important mechanism running alongside leadership talks. They demonstrate the shared commitment of Thailand and Vietnam to build strategic trust, readiness to elevate security cooperation across all dimensions, and to jointly create sustainable stability, peace, and prosperity for the ASEAN region,” said Ms. Ratchada. .