Simonia Aida

The Crisis in Myanmar: the Shadow Diplomacy of Former Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra

ЮГО-ВОСТОЧНАЯ АЗИЯ: АКТУАЛЬНЫЕ ПРОБЛЕМЫ РАЗВИТИЯ, 2024, №2(63), 154-163

 
Annotation: The establishment of Thailand, which shares a 2,400 km border with Myanmar, is considered close to its military leadership. Neighboring Myanmar is its major trading partner. The Thai Foreign Ministry has repeatedly stated that Bangkok wants an end to violence, peace and stability in Myanmar. The Kingdom provides humanitarian assistance to the suffering population of Myanmar. The Thai Foreign Ministry has always considered informal discussions as one of the ways to get out of the protracted crisis situation and solve problems in the case of Myanmar. Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who returned to his homeland in 2023 after a long exile, also decided to follow the path of informal discussions. He held a series of talks in Chiang Mai with key rebel organizations, which caused a mixed reaction in various circles. An attempt by former Thai Prime Minister to act as an unofficial mediator in the Myanmar civil war by holding secret talks with opposition groups has put all sides, including Myanmar's military junta, in an awkward position.

Keywords: Thailand, the crisis in Myanmar, Thaksin Shinawatra, armed ethnic organizations, Government of Thailand