Japan and Thailand to deepen defence, economic relations

Official welcome: Kishida (right) reviewing an honour guard with Prayut during his official visit to Thailand. — Reuters

The leaders of Japan and Thailand announced a new defence agreement as well as plans to upgrade their economic relations, as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wrapped up the last leg of a three-nation tour of South-East Asia.

The agreement would facilitate the transfer of defence hardware and technology from Japan to Thailand, which has one of the region’s biggest and most equipped armies and a long history of ties with the US military.