INDIA-THAILAND DEFENCE COOPERATION

India and Thailand are located in each others extended neighbourhood and share a common maritime boundary in the Andaman Sea.

Defence cooperation is growing steadily and forms an important aspect of the multifaceted relationship between India and Thailand. They are important partners linking South and Southeast Asia.

The India-Thailand defence cooperation comprises regular joint exercises / joint maritime patrols near the international maritime boundary to counter terrorism, piracy and smuggling; training of officers at each others Armed Forces Training institutions and exchange of visits at various levels. An MoU on Defence Cooperation is also under finalization while Joint Working Group Meetings and Staff Talks are held regularly.

The Indian Air Force Surya Kiran Acrobatic Team (SKAT) performed a breathtaking 9 aircraft aerobatic display in Bangkok in December 2007 to commemorate the 80th Birthday of H.M. The King.

Recent high level interactions include visits by the Indian Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of Naval Staff to Thailand in May 2008. In 2008, from the Thai side, the Commander-in-Chief of Royal Thai Air Force made a farewell visit to India in May, while the Deputy Commanders-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army and Royal Thai Navy visited India in February.

ndian naval ships have also been regularly making port calls to Thailand. In February 2008, No. 1 Training Squadron of the Indian Navy, comprising three Naval and one Coast Guard ship visited Phuket, which was followed up by a smaller Naval ship in November 2008. Three Indian warships had also visited Bangkok in the first half of 2008 as part of their annual training visit in the region.