Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono has paid an official visit to Bangkok to co-chair the 10th Thailand-Indonesia Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) with his Thai counterpart, Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa. The visit marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Southeast Asia’s two largest economies, and culminated in a landmark decision to elevate bilateral ties to a strategic partnership.
Laying a roadmap for strategic partnership
At the JCM held at the Shangri-La Hotel on May 2nd, 2025, both foreign ministers agreed to upgrade relations and establish a joint working team tasked with drafting a Strategic Partnership Roadmap. This document will identify priority areas of cooperation and serve as the foundation for deeper economic, political, and security ties.
“This step reflects our increasingly close bilateral relations and a shared vision to contribute more to the region,” said Minister Sugiono.
The visit also serves as preparation for the upcoming official visit of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to Thailand. The visit is expected to coincide with the unveiling of the new strategic roadmap and announcements on cooperation in sectors such as green energy, halal industry standards, and strategic industrial development.
Minister Maris said the visit would represent a deepening of diplomatic trust and aims to enhance regional peace and prosperity. “We are laying the groundwork for a new level of engagement,” he added, while citing a plan to establish a leaders’ consultation mechanism to ensure consistent high-level dialogue.
Tackling shared security issues
Thailand and Indonesia have also marked the auspicious anniversary by focusing on regional stability and transnational crime. During Minister Sugiono’s visit, both sides reaffirmed their joint commitment to combating human trafficking, particularly in light of recent cases involving Indonesian nationals lured to online scam operations in Myanmar.
“I appreciate the support of the Thai government in the repatriation of Indonesian citizens who are victims of trafficking in persons,” Minister Sugiono stated, adding that both nations should continue to strengthen collaboration to eradicate transnational crime.
Myanmar’s ongoing crisis was also a major point of discussion. Indonesia reiterated its support for ASEAN’s five-point consensus and urged Thailand to remain proactive in pushing for implementation. “We could be moving [the five-point consensus] forward [together], hoping for better and long-lasting peace in Myanmar,” said Mirza Nurhidayat, a senior Indonesian diplomat, at a public forum hosted by Chulalongkorn University during the week.
The two countries expressed a mutual desire to make ASEAN more relevant on the global stage, with both seeing their partnership as a stabilizing force amid global geopolitical rivalries.
Trade, Investment, and the OECD
On the economic front, both ministers committed to expanding market access for Indonesian products, particularly in agriculture, fisheries, and MSMEs, while promoting Thai investment in Indonesian strategic industries. Additionally, discussions touched on cooperation in the green energy transition.
The visit also comes as both countries begin formal discussions to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) — a landmark move for Southeast Asia. Officials from both sides have emphasized how OECD accession can act as a catalyst for domestic reforms, improve governance, and enhance regional economic integration.
People-to-people ties and looking ahead
Beyond formal agreements, the week’s engagements highlighted softer dimensions of diplomacy as Thai and Indonesian officials emphasized the value of student exchange programs and education cooperation in building a more competent regional workforce and promoting people-to-people ties.
As Indonesia and Thailand mark 75 years of diplomatic ties, their evolving partnership appears poised to help shape the trajectory of ASEAN’s role in global affairs. With a strategic roadmap underway and a presidential visit on the horizon, both nations are signaling not only a celebration of past ties, but a bold recalibration for the future.
Teerin Julsawad