Phumtham to Attend ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Laos.

Bangkok: "Phumtham" prepares to fly to Laos to attend the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting on 19-22 Nov. 67, reveals that he will introduce himself as the Defense Minister, stating that there are many matters to discuss, and will provide clarification after the meeting is over. He is confident that all countries will have open discussions. According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Phumtham Vejjayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, discussed his preparations for attending the 18th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and the 11th Dialogue Partners' Defense Ministers' Meeting from November 19-22, 2024, in Laos. He emphasized the importance of introducing himself as Thailand's new Defense Minister and highlighted the numerous issues slated for discussion, particularly bilateral talks with seven countries. He assured that detailed outcomes of these discussions would be shared post-meeting. Mr. Phumtham further elaborated on the expected agenda, which includes joint water management and the handlin g of man-made disasters like drug trafficking. Besides engagements with ASEAN member countries, dialogues are planned with the United States, China, and Australia. Addressing whether Thailand intends to advocate for additional issues during the meeting, Mr. Phumtham noted that with Lao PDR set to hand over ASEAN's rotating chairmanship to Malaysia, dialogues aimed at building mutual confidence are crucial. He stressed the growing geopolitical significance of ASEAN nations and the necessity for Thailand to maintain neutrality to maximize its benefits without undue influence from any side. 'Given that ASEAN member countries share borders, cooperative discussions on numerous issues like drug trafficking and natural disasters are essential,' Mr. Phumtham explained, citing an example in Chiang Rai Province regarding international river dredging. 'Bilateral discussions will pave the way for open communication,' he added. When queried about discussions with Cambodia, particularly regarding international relations , Mr. Phumtham affirmed, 'We engage in dialogue with every country. The discussions depend on each country's specific issues. We will first listen to their perspectives before engaging further.'