Diplomat joins BRICS summit in Brazil

Thailand's foreign policy landscape is shifting, as the country embarks on a mission to strengthen international partnerships and leverage Muay Thai as a lucrative form of soft power. Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, who recently attended a Brics meeting, outlined these strategic moves.

Last week, Maris made his way to the Brics Foreign Ministers meeting in Rio de Janeiro, invited by his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira. The Brics group, with 11 member countries, encompasses China, India, Russia, as well as three popular destinations among Thai tourists. With significant economic potential, Thailand is eager to expand bilateral cooperation with Brazil across various sectors, such as food security, public health, agriculture, and green energy.

Emphasizing the significance of this partnership, Maris stated that Thailand's participation in a Brics meeting for the first time as a partner country presents an invaluable opportunity to collaborate with fellow developing nations. In addition to Brazil, Brics also includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.

Parallel to the Brics meeting, Maris graced the opening ceremony of the Muay Thai Master Class in Rio de Janeiro. This collaborative event, involving Thailand's sports industry promotion subcommittee, the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), the Thai Embassy in Brasília, and the Brazilian Muay Thai Confederation, attracted over 300 participants and featured renowned fighters teaching their skills.

Proudly extolling the worldwide popularity, economic value, and growth potential of Muay Thai, Maris reiterated the government's commitment to supporting and fostering this martial art both domestically and internationally.

In other news, Mathias Cormann, secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), is set to visit Thailand. Scheduled from May 1-3, this visit marks the second time Mr. Cormann has visited since the commencement of Thailand's OECD Accession Process. During his stay, he will engage in discussions with key government and legislative figures and participate in the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Forum.

As a co-founder and three-time host of the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Forum, Thailand will share its successful experiences of working with the OECD to strengthen collaboration between the organization and Southeast Asia. Commencing its accession process in 2024, Thailand aims to improve its competitiveness and increase people's incomes.

While the current data does not provide specific insights into the role of Muay Thai as a means for soft power promotion, this globally-renowned martial art plays a vital role in projecting Thailand's cultural identity and fostering diplomatic relationships through channels like cultural exchange, international competitions, tourism, and sports diplomacy.

Enrichment Insights:

India-Thailand Strategic Partnership: A recent development aims to intensify cooperation in defense, security, trade, investment, connectivity, education, and people-to-people exchanges. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to a rules-based Indo-Pacific region, supporting ASEAN Centrality and exploring partnership through initiatives like the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
Cambodia-Thailand Strategic Partnership: Ongoing collaboration focuses on enhancing cooperation across sectors and strengthening ties.
Middle East Partnerships: Thailand's pursuit of strategic alliances in the Middle East market showcases efforts to diversify its economic partnerships beyond traditional regional collaborations, focusing on luxury, wellness, and cultural tourism.

Thailand's Muay Thai Ambassadorship:

Cultural Exchange: Muay Thai instructors teach the martial art worldwide, promoting Thai culture and values.
International Competitions: Participation in international competitions enhances goodwill and recognition by demonstrating Thai athleticism and martial arts prowess.
Tourism: Muay Thai training camps and events draw tourists, contributing positively to the Thai tourism industry and projecting the country's soft power through memorable experiences.
Diplomatic Engagement: Hosting international Muay Thai events can contribute to diplomatic outreach, fostering relations with partners through cultural diplomacy.

Thailand's Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, following the Brics meeting in Rio de Janeiro, expressed eagerness to expand bilateral cooperation with Brazil, especially in sectors like food security, public health, agriculture, and green energy.
In addition to Brazil, Thailand has been actively pursuing strategic partnerships with developing nations such as India and Indonesia, which are part of the Brics group, and Middle Eastern countries like Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.
Apart from political alliances, Thailand is also leveraging Muay Thai as a form of soft power by hosting collaborative events like the Muay Thai Master Class, attracting over 300 participants and featuring renowned fighters.
As the Thailand-OECD Accession Process progresses, Mathias Cormann, secretary-general of the OECD, is scheduled to visit Thailand from May 1-3 for discussions and engagement with key government and legislative figures to improve Thailand's competitiveness and increase people's incomes.