India and Thailand convened the 10th India-Thailand Defence Dialogue in Bangkok on 17 June 2025, undertaking a comprehensive review of bilateral defence cooperation and sharing assessments on regional and global security developments. The dialogue marks a decade of institutionalised defence engagement between the two nations, which elevated their ties to a formal strategic partnership in 2025.

Key Developments

The dialogue was co-chaired by Satyajit Mohanty, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, and Nuttapol Diewvanich, Thailand's Deputy Permanent Secretary for Defence. Both sides reviewed progress achieved since the previous round of talks, covering military-to-military engagements, capacity-building initiatives, training exchanges, and maritime cooperation.

Discussions also addressed the evolving security environment in the Indo-Pacific region, with delegations exchanging perspectives on regional developments. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region through sustained dialogue and collaboration.

Defence Industry and Innovation on the Agenda

A notable feature of this year's dialogue was the focus on defence industry cooperation. According to the Ministry of Defence, the two sides explored opportunities to deepen collaboration in defence manufacturing, research, innovation, and capability development, with the aim of fostering mutually beneficial partnerships between their respective defence ecosystems.

This signals a shift beyond traditional military exchanges toward co-production and technology-sharing — a trend consistent with India's broader push to internationalise its defence industrial base under initiatives such as Make in India.

Regional and Multilateral Frameworks

The delegations also exchanged views on cooperation under regional and multilateral defence frameworks, including mechanisms led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to addressing shared security challenges through practical cooperation under these platforms.

The Embassy of India in Bangkok, in a post on X, noted: 'Both sides reviewed all aspects of the ongoing activities in different domains and discussed ways to further intensify engagements, especially in new and emerging areas, under the bilateral strategic partnership and various regional frameworks. India and Thailand are maritime neighbours, and Thailand is an important partner for India in its Act East Policy and in the Indo-Pacific region.'

Strategic Significance for India

Thailand occupies a pivotal position in India's Act East Policy, serving as a gateway to mainland Southeast Asia and a key node in the Indo-Pacific strategic architecture. The two countries share maritime boundaries and have expanding interests in connectivity, trade, and security cooperation.

The meeting concluded with discussions on future engagements and a roadmap for the next phase of bilateral defence cooperation, with both sides expected to build on the momentum of the newly formalised strategic partnership.