The mechanism for implementing the security policy of the Kingdom of Thailand through a specific system of monarchical levers is an interesting option for achieving strategic goals. The current role of the Kingdom in strengthening the system of regional security and stability in Southeast Asia is undeniable. Thailand implements this function through the system of contributing to the UN peacekeeping forces, as well as through the development of good-neighbourly cooperation with neighbouring states.

Recently, the Kingdom of Thailand was a weak country that experienced an endless series of coups d’état, because of which the military came to power. Today it is a modern advanced state and all geographical neighbours’ and countries on distant continents seek to develop relations with it. With a free market economy, the Kingdom has a powerful domestic market and a strong middle class, and the private sector is the main engine of development. Thailand’s economy is well integrated into the world market, exports account for over 70 percent of the Kingdom’s GDP.

A powerful and responsible participant in the international community, Thailand is distinguished by its special influence in regional and international organizations – the UN, ASEAN. This state seeks to play a constructive role in international affairs, to confront the challenges facing the world community.

The history of Thailand’s participation in two World Wars is quite ambiguous. Demonstrating its own strategic unsurpassed flexibility in making tactical decisions, constantly changing allies, moving from one camp to another, supporting the winners and speaking on the side of the strong, Thailand did not disdain betrayal and deception, balancing on a shaky core of frequent changes in the situation.

Thailand managed to find promising solutions in quite complex tactical situations and achieve the outlined goal. The bet on a promising winner always won. And there is quite interesting: the repeated betrayal of the United States by the Kingdom did not affect the American attitude towards Thailand. The United States always forgave the Siamese government.

Lessons of successful decisions in the First World War.

In 1917, to gain the favour of the British and French, Siam declared war on the German Empire and Austria-Hungary. The symbolic participation of Siam in the First World War secured it a place at the Versailles Peace Conference, where Thailand achieved the abolition of the unequal treaties of the 19th century and the restoration of full sovereignty of Siam. The United States of America supported the position of Siam in 1920, and France and Britain agreed to such a decision only in 1925.

Another military coup or as it is called the Siamese Revolution, which led to the liquidation of the monarchy, took place on June 24, 1932. The leaders of the coup, as sources claim, were inspired by Western ideas of an exclusive nation-state, acting in accordance with their close German nationalists and anti-democratic counterparts (of the pre-Nazi period) to achieve dominance in the entire kingdom of the central Thai culture. To this end, even enterprises belonging to minorities, such as the traditionally trading Thai Chinese, were taken over (acquired) by the state.

Lessons of successful decisions in the II World War

During the 2WW Thailand “runs over” from one warring camp to another, alternately fighting on opposing barricades. The United States supported the Thai king, using his territory and military potential for American purposes and interests. This is a phenomenal policy pursued by the Thai state, which has the appropriate military resources and economic capabilities.

On December 8, 1941, a few hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan invaded Thailand. Japan demanded permission to transfer troops through Thailand to the Malay border. The Japanese demands were accepted, and a military alliance was signed with Japan, under which the Japanese army used the Kingdom as a base for its invasions of Burma and Malaya.

The Thai leadership took advantage of France’s defeat in the confrontation with fascist Germany to attack the French colonies – French Indochina. The Franco-Thai War was begun in 1941. Although the Thais suffered a heavy defeat in the naval battle of Koh Chang, but Kingdom dominated on land and in the air. The Japanese Empire, as the dominant power in the Southeast Asian region at that time, took on the role of mediator in resolving the conflict. The negotiations ended with Thai territorial gains in the French colonies of Laos and Cambodia.

Thailand declared war on Britain and the United States, and South Africa and New Zealand declared war on Thailand. Australia soon joined them.

When the Allies won, the United States blocked Britain’s attempts to impose a punitive peace on Thailand. It is not excluded that an agreement was reached between Thailand and the United States to use Thai military potential against China, which occupied Burma (Myanmar). In 1942, the Thai army defeated Chinese troops in Burma and forced the Chinese to retreat. In 1945, Thailand handed over the liberated territory to Burma.

The Kingdom returned the territories of Vietnam and Laos occupied by himself in 1941. At the same time… it returned not sincerely, but under certain conditions – as compensation (payment) for gaining membership in the United Nations. All claims against Siam related to the war period were withdrawn, and the United States provided Thailand with significant assistance.

Thailand officially became an ally of the United States in 1954 after the creation of SEATO. Thailand, fulfilling its allied obligations, allowed the United States to use air bases in the east of the country for bombing North Vietnam. The headquarters of the Seventh and Thirteenth Armies of the United States Air Force were located at the Royal Thai Air Force Base Udon.

The Vietnam War accelerated the modernization and Westernization of Thai society. With financial (dollar) support from the United States, which flooded the economy, the services, education, transport, and construction sectors grew phenomenally, as did drug abuse and prostitution.

Observers called the next Thai coup in 2014 a pro-fascist coup: the foundations of the military regime resemble the fascist regimes in Europe of the 1930s.

At the beginning of the XXI century given the important level of development of the Kingdom of Thailand, Ukraine has identified this country as a priority component of its external activity in the PSA region and is implementing a few areas of in-depth cooperation with this state. Cooperation in the aerospace sector is promising. In 2008, the Ukrainian carrier rocket “Dnipro” developed by the Yuzhny Design Bureau launched the first Thai Earth observation satellite – THEOS. Thailand is also an important buyer of Ukrainian military equipment – BTRs and tanks “Oplot”. The Thai side expressed interest in Ukrainian BTR-4MV1, which were the main combat vehicles of the Kingdom’s marines.

Thailand supports Ukraine in its just struggle for a free and sovereign state, regularly provides material assistance. Thus, on December 22, 2023, the Kingdom transferred the fourth batch of humanitarian aid for the Ukrainian people worth 2 million baht for the purchase of necessary things for the Ukrainian people in war conditions. Humanitarian aid from Thailand – for a total amount of 22.5 million baht – approximately 640,000 US dollars comes through international organizations. 

Ukraine is impressed by the Kingdom’s balanced position on Russia’s war against Ukraine, political and material support, and assistance of Thailand in confronting Russian aggression. 

L.Ch.