The Prime Minister boarded an armored vehicle to open the THAIDEF-EX 2026 exhibition, supporting the national defense industry and emphasizing Thailand’s self-reliance before testing a laser gun. He reiterated the motto “Make Love, Not War,” describing a warm atmosphere amidst the military event.
At 08:00 on 8 July 2026, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who also serves as Minister of Interior, chaired the opening ceremony of the Thailand Defence Industry Exhibition 2026 (THAIDEF-EX 2026) at the multipurpose building of the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defense (Srisaman) in Pak Kret district, Nonthaburi province.
The Prime Minister arrived standing on a mine-resistant armored vehicle called “First Win,” accompanied by Lieutenant General Adul Boonthamcharoen, Minister of Defense. The Cabinet attended the event in full, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Suphajee Suthumpun; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Yotchanan Wongsawat; Minister of Industry Warawut Silpa-archa; Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office Pradorn Pisananantakul; and Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office Supamas Isarapakdi.
In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister expressed great pleasure in inaugurating the Thailand Defence Industry Exhibition 2026, which demonstrates Thailand’s readiness not only in national defense and sovereignty protection but also in self-reliance and economic competitiveness. He noted the current global context marked by significant changes, with some saying the era of globalization is over. Whereas in the past, countries easily depended on each other and traded smoothly with minimal restrictions on raw materials, today trade and investment face obstacles due to geopolitical conflicts, leading many nations to realign and causing supply chain disruptions and production constraints. This shift compels countries to pursue self-reliance to ensure security and sustainable production instead of relying on foreign imports.
The Prime Minister emphasized that for Thailand, developing the defense industry not only enhances security and self-reliance but also presents a crucial opportunity to advance technology, upgrade industries, and generate economic value. Thailand possesses strong manufacturing capabilities and a strategic location conducive to becoming a competitive global production base.
He described this event as a major milestone in national development and a key advancement for the defense industry, which will benefit Thailand across multiple dimensions: research, advanced technology development, engineering and innovation workforce development, and fostering Thai entrepreneurs to enter higher-value industries. Many current technologies—such as unmanned aerial vehicles, satellite navigation systems, and special materials—originated from security research before being adapted for industrial and everyday use.
The Prime Minister underscored that investing in the defense industry is not solely about national security but also an investment in the future of Thai industry and enhancing the country’s competitiveness. He expressed confidence that Thailand has the potential to become a regional leader in defense technology manufacturing.
He further stressed the government’s commitment to integrating domestic and international cooperation to ensure comprehensive linkage of Thailand’s research, development, and production efforts. The signing of a memorandum of understanding among the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, and Ministry of Industry represents a strategic step to connect knowledge, research, manufacturing capacity, and demand, turning Thailand’s defense technology development into tangible results. He expressed confidence that this collaboration will initiate new value creation for the country.
Following this, the Prime Minister toured booths displaying weapons and military equipment produced by Thai companies. He signed a congratulatory message with a bullet-shaped pen, writing “Congratulations on your success,” and told reporters in English, “Make Love, Not War.” This phrase roughly translates to opposing war and advocating peace, famously associated with the hippie movement.
At one point, the Prime Minister tested firing a laser gun at a paper target, then invited Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Suphajee Suthumpun and Minister of Defense Lieutenant General Adul Boonthamcharoen to try it. He showed keen interest in the gun’s mechanism, noting it as an innovation developed by Thais.
In an interview afterward, the Prime Minister invited the public to attend THAIDEF-EX 2026, highlighting it as an exhibition showcasing Thailand’s defense industry potential. He said his visit today strengthened his confidence in Thailand’s security and ability to defend itself from invasion. Importantly, Thailand no longer needs to depend on foreign procurement for weapons and military equipment to stand on its own. Government officials who viewed the exhibition recognized the capabilities and readiness of Thai industry entrepreneurs. Going forward, the government will require the military and relevant agencies to procure domestically produced equipment, encouraging continuous development and quality enhancement by local manufacturers.
He also discussed with entrepreneurs who revealed that some export military equipment abroad but do not sell domestically. He asserted that support should be provided to ensure the security of Thai people as well. The government must allocate budgets for this support. Besides initiatives where Thai people help each other with costs, there must be efforts by Thais to protect the country. Walking through the event as head of government, he expressed confidence that if an unwanted but necessary incident occurs, the country will be prepared, following the principle, “Even while hoping for peace, be prepared for war.”
Regarding his feelings attending the event amid military surroundings, Prime Minister Anutin said he felt warm and confident that the Thai military is well-prepared to protect the kingdom, its sovereignty, and the country’s peace.
