The Philippines exchanging best practices with Thailand is crucial to addressing common defense and security challenges.
Department of National Defense officer-in-charge, Senior Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr., said these practices largely contributed to both countries' strategies to address terrorism and internal security concerns.
Ambassador of Thailand to the Philippines, Tull Traisorat, met with Faustino at the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, to discuss the status of their bilateral defense relations, potential areas of cooperation, ways ahead for logistics and defense industry collaboration and multilateral cooperation.
Faustino cited the Philippines and Thailand maintained "robust" relations and sustained dialogue despite the ongoing global health crisis.
Both countries have been convening high-level meetings and conducting various defense and military activities.
Faustino said the DND fully supports Thailand's co-chairmanship with the United States for the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus Experts' Working Group on Maritime Security from 2021 to 2024.
Meanwhile, Traisorat cited that information sharing remains one of the critical elements of military collaboration between both countries.
He emphasized the need to further sustain the Philippines-Thailand strong and active defense relations, including logistical ties, defense industry cooperation and partnership under the auspices of ASEAN.
Traisorat added that Thailand is willing to assist the Philippines' economic recovery efforts, particularly in food security and tourism.
Both officials also welcomed possible cooperation on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief while preparing for the upcoming 2022 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit to be hosted in Thailand.
The two countries are also preparing for their 75th diplomatic relations set by 2024. Their legations were established at each other's capitals in 1949, which were eventually elevated to embassy status on 1 January 1956.
