This article covers the diplomatic relationship between India and Thailand: the establishment of relations and the Strategic Partnership, the regional groupings in which the two countries work together, visits and meetings of leaders and foreign ministers, parliamentary contacts and the institutional mechanisms for dialogue. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of July 2026.

Establishment of relations and Strategic Partnership

According to the MEA brief of July 2026, diplomatic relations between India and Thailand were established in 1947, and both sides celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2022. The brief states that the two countries "have historically enjoyed warm bilateral relations". In April 2025, during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Thailand, the two countries elevated the relations to a Strategic Partnership.

The brief notes that Thailand's 'Act West' policy complements India's 'Act East' policy, and that Thailand is also India's maritime neighbour. It lists the areas covered by bilateral ties as trade and investment; defence and security; connectivity; culture and tourism; education; science and technology; and people to people exchanges.

Regional and multilateral partnership

The brief describes Thailand as an important partner of India in:

  • ASEAN
  • the East Asia Summit (EAS)
  • the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)
  • the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC)
  • the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD)
  • the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
  • the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS)

Visits and meetings of leaders

The brief states that high level visits and meetings have taken place on a regular basis between both sides.

At the invitation of the then Prime Minister of Thailand, Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Bangkok for the 6th BIMSTEC Summit and an Official Visit on 03-04 April 2025. He held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Thailand at the Government House on 03 April, and had a Royal Audience with the King and the Queen of Thailand on 04 April. The two leaders had earlier met briefly on the sidelines of the 44th and 45th ASEAN and Related Summits in Vientiane on 11 October 2024.

Prime Minister Modi visited Thailand from 02-04 November 2019 to attend the 16th ASEAN and Related Summits, and held a bilateral meeting with the then Prime Minister of Thailand, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, on 03 November. The two Prime Ministers also met on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Osaka, Japan, on 28 June 2019; of the East Asia Summit in Singapore on 14 November 2018; and of the 4th BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu on 31 August 2018.

From Thailand, General Prayut Chan-o-cha visited India from 24-26 January 2018 for the India-ASEAN Special Commemorative Summit and as a Guest of Honour for the Republic Day Parade, along with other ASEAN leaders. He had earlier paid a state visit to India from 16-18 June 2016 and held extensive dialogue with various interlocutors.

Foreign ministers' meetings

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow paid an official visit to New Delhi from 12-14 May 2026 for the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting. He held a bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar and called on the Prime Minister along with other BRICS Foreign Ministers.

Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow had earlier paid an official visit to New Delhi from 30 November-01 December 2025, when EAM held delegation-level talks with him on 01 December. He also called on the National Security Adviser, Shri Ajit Doval. EAM had met him before that on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN and related Meetings in Kuala Lumpur on 27 October 2025.

The then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, attended the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on 17-19 March 2025, met EAM and joined a joint call on the Prime Minister with other Foreign Ministers. He had also visited New Delhi from 01-02 November 2024 to attend the Royal Kathina Ceremony, offering robes to Buddhist monks, and for the 2nd BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat hosted by EAM on 11-13 July 2024.

The then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, visited India on 26-28 February 2024 and co-chaired the 10th India-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting with EAM.

EAM visited Bangkok from 15-18 July 2023 to co-chair the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting with the Foreign Minister of Lao PDR, and to take part in the first BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat hosted by Thailand. With other BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers, he paid a joint call on General Prayut Chan-o-cha on 17 July 2023. Earlier, EAM visited Bangkok from 16-18 August 2022 and co-chaired the 9th Meeting of the India-Thailand Joint Commission with Mr. Don Pramudwinai, then DPM/FM of Thailand, on 17 August 2022.

Voice of Global South Summit

Thailand took part in the first two editions of the Voice of Global South Summit organised by India. On 12 January 2023, General Prayut Chan-o-cha participated through a pre-recorded video message. During the second edition, Dr. Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara virtually addressed the second Foreign Minister's session of the Summit on 17 November 2023.

Other official visits

A high-level delegation from the Constitutional Court of Thailand, led by its President, Dr. Nakharin Mektrairat, visited India from 04-09 August 2025.

Parliamentary interaction

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla, met Mr. Mongkol Surasajja, President of the Senate of Thailand, on the sidelines of the 149th Assembly of the IPU in Geneva on 15 October 2024. He had earlier met Mr. Chuan Leekpai, then Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand, at the P20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit in Jakarta on 07 October 2022.

A 14 member delegation from the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, led by its Chairperson, Senator Mrs. Pikulkeaw Krairiksh, visited India from 05-08 February 2024. The delegation called on the Speaker and EAM, and met members of the Departmental Related Standing Committee on External Affairs.

Institutional mechanisms

  • Joint Commission Meeting: the 10th round was held in New Delhi, co-chaired by EAM and Dr. Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, and reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations. The brief dates this meeting 28 February 2024 in its account of the visit and 27 February 2024 in its section on institutional mechanisms.
  • Foreign Office Consultations: the 7th round was held on 07 August 2023 in Bangkok, co-chaired by the then Secretary (East), Shri Saurabh Kumar, and the then Thai Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sarun Charoensuwan.
  • Other dialogues: the brief states that the two countries have institutionalised Joint Working Groups on Security Cooperation, on Education and on Visa and Consular matters, and a Joint Task Force on Maritime Cooperation, which meet regularly.