Thailand and France have embarked on a path to elevate their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, a decision reached during a meeting between Thailand’s Anutin Charnvirakul and France’s Emmanuel Macron in Paris. The talks, held at the Élysée Palace, centered on enhancing cooperation across various sectors, including trade, investment, cybersecurity, defense, and advanced technology. Both leaders also exchanged views on regional developments, particularly concerning Cambodia and Myanmar.
The dialogue between the two nations highlighted a commitment to bolstering collaboration in key industries such as alternative energy, aerospace, aviation, smart power grids, and artificial intelligence infrastructure. France underscored its support for finalizing the Thailand-European Union free trade agreement within the current year. This agreement, initially launched in 2013 and paused in 2014 before resuming in 2023, is anticipated to open up significant economic opportunities for both Thailand and France.
A pledge to enhance defense and cybersecurity cooperation was also made, focusing on combating cybercrime, online scams, and transnational digital threats. On regional matters, Thailand emphasized its dedication to resolving border issues with Cambodia through peaceful dialogue and adherence to international law frameworks. The two governments announced the upcoming implementation of the Joint Action Plan to Strengthen the Thai-French Partnership from 2026 to 2028, setting the stage for a formal strategic partnership.
During his visit, Anutin engaged with executives from prominent French companies such as Airbus, Imerys, EssilorLuxottica, IN Groupe, and Thales Group, aiming to attract further investment in Thailand’s high-tech and future industries. French companies expressed confidence in Thailand’s investment landscape, with Airbus confirming its intention to expand its aviation and engineering operations in the country.