Thailand and Indonesia enter a new era as PM Anutin and President Prabowo unveil a five-year partnership covering defence, trade, cybercrime, transport and ASEAN cooperation during a landmark Jakarta summit on Monday and Tuesday.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul launched Thailand’s most important diplomatic mission to Indonesia in 15 years on Monday as Bangkok and Jakarta unveiled an ambitious new five-year strategic partnership covering defence, trade, investment and regional security. Meeting Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta, the two ASEAN powers committed to deeper military cooperation, intensified action against cyber scams and human trafficking networks, expanded economic links and closer coordination on mounting Indo-Pacific challenges, marking a shift in one of Southeast Asia’s most important bilateral relationships.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul arrived in Jakarta on Monday for the first official visit by a Thai premier to Indonesia in 15 years. The two-day mission reflects a renewed effort to strengthen ties between ASEAN’s two largest founding members.
It also comes as both governments seek closer cooperation on security, trade and regional stability amid mounting geopolitical pressure across the Indo-Pacific.
At 3.45 pm on August 3, Mr Anutin landed at Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport. The official visit follows an invitation from Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Accompanying the Prime Minister was a senior ministerial delegation reflecting the breadth of the bilateral agenda.
Senior ministers join Anutin as Indonesia prepares full state welcome and high-level bilateral summit talks
The delegation included Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkaew, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Supajee Suthamphan, Minister of Defence Lt. Gen. Adul Boonthamcharoen, Minister of Education Prasert Chantharawongthong and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Watcharapol Khaokham.
On arrival, Indonesia staged a formal welcome for the Thai delegation. General Jamari Kaniyago, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, headed the reception.
Also attending were Indonesian Ambassador to Thailand Hari Prabowo and Thailand’s Ambassador to Indonesia Praphan Disayathat. Thereafter, the delegation departed for a programme centred on the Indonesian Presidential Palace.
Monday’s agenda was dominated by high-level diplomacy. President Prabowo was scheduled to host a formal welcoming ceremony at Merdeka Palace. Afterwards, both leaders were due to hold private talks before chairing expanded bilateral discussions involving ministers and senior officials. The programme would conclude with a joint press conference and the exchange of cooperation documents spanning multiple sectors.
Landmark visit launches new strategic partnership with five-year roadmap for bilateral cooperation
Notably, the visit is regarded as one of the most significant diplomatic engagements between the neighbours in more than a decade. It follows last year’s decision to elevate bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership. Accordingly, both governments used the Jakarta meetings to begin implementing that commitment through concrete initiatives.
The centrepiece of the talks was the adoption of the Indonesia-Thailand Strategic Partnership Roadmap 2026-2030. The framework sets priorities for bilateral cooperation over the next five years. It also provides a structured plan for expanding collaboration across government, business and security agencies.
Under the roadmap, both countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, food security and energy. In parallel, they committed to closer collaboration in defence, digital technology, tourism, transport and people-to-people exchanges. Collectively, those sectors represent the core of the expanding strategic relationship.
Economic cooperation featured prominently throughout the discussions. Both governments reviewed measures to increase bilateral trade and encourage greater investment. They also examined ways to improve regional connectivity through transport links.
New air links and stronger defence ties expand economic integration and regional security cooperation
Separately, the two sides welcomed new direct flights linking Jakarta with Bangkok and Denpasar with Phuket. Those services are expected to strengthen tourism, expand business travel and improve commercial integration.
Security cooperation formed an equally important pillar of the visit. President Prabowo proposed expanding joint military exercises between the Indonesian Armed Forces and the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
He also called for more exchanges of military officers for education and professional development. As part of this, both governments agreed to deepen intelligence sharing and defence cooperation.
Attention also centred on transnational crime. Both sides pledged stronger law enforcement coordination and more joint investigations. In particular, they targeted cyber scam operations and human trafficking syndicates operating across mainland Southeast Asia. Equally important, both governments backed stronger operational cooperation against increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.
Thailand and Indonesia deepen joint action against cyber scams, trafficking and organised crime
President Prabowo also thanked Thailand for helping facilitate the repatriation of almost 1,000 Indonesian citizens rescued from online scam compounds. The issue has become a major priority for both capitals.
Criminal syndicates operating along the Myanmar border continue exploiting victims from across Asia. In response, both leaders endorsed stronger regional mechanisms to protect trafficking victims and improve cross-border cooperation.
On another front, the leaders examined wider regional developments affecting ASEAN. Thailand and Indonesia remain among the bloc’s largest economies and its founding members.
Consequently, closer coordination between Bangkok and Jakarta carries influence well beyond bilateral relations.
Leaders push stronger ASEAN coordination as regional security pressures reshape priorities
ASEAN continues facing several strategic challenges. These include the crisis in Myanmar, tensions in the South China Sea and increasingly sophisticated cybercrime. Meanwhile, supply-chain resilience has become an important regional priority. Growing strategic competition across the Indo-Pacific has added further pressure on regional governments.
Against that backdrop, President Prabowo called for more frequent consultations between the two countries. He said Thailand and Indonesia should work together to build a stronger and more stable ASEAN. He also stressed the need for collective responses to emerging regional challenges.
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Finally, the visit underlined Thailand’s renewed diplomatic engagement with one of its most important regional partners.
More significantly, it transformed last year’s Strategic Partnership into a practical programme covering diplomacy, security, trade and connectivity. With the new five-year roadmap now adopted, both governments have established a framework intended to deepen cooperation across virtually every major area of bilateral relations.
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