Thai Foreign Minister's Resignation Not A Great Look For Bangkok
But It Isn't Too Big A Deal for European Relations
In my conservations with diplomats and foreign investors in Thailand over the past few months, I haven’t heard a bad word said against now-former Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, who delivered a bombshell resignation over the weekend after being dropped as deputy prime minister during a reshuffle. A self-inflicted wound for Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who’s fizzing with so many ideas that he’s ignoring the nuts and bolts of governing (like keeping the talent). Indeed, Parnpree was one of the few cabinet ministers seen as doing a good job.
What does it mean for relations with Europe? Negotiations over the EU-Thailand free trade agreement re-started in March 2023, but there ought to be quite a bit of scepticism about whether they’ll be wrapped up before the end of 2025, which is Bangkok’s stated goal. The Thai Ministry of Commerce, not the foreign ministry, is conducting the talks, so Parnpree’s exit won’t directly impact them. And PM Srettha is committed to the FTA, too. However, one imagines that Parnpree, who has gotten to know European officials over the past eight months, might have been useful since there will be disagreements over the EU-Thailand FTA that need smoothing over. There’s going to be a big fight over the seafood sector since the rights abuses in that industry are a biggie for Brussels while Bangkok looks set to pass legislation that will weaken those regulations. Thailand’s interlocutors admit that this will be the most comprehensive and complicated free trade deal they’ve negotiated, so it’s not ideal that a respected and competent foreign minister, who might have lent a hand to the commerce ministry negotiators, has left just after those talks began.
Parnpree accompanied Srettha on his visits to France and Germany earlier this year and has often met with European officials. Parnpree was at the forefront of calling for more European support over the Myanmar conflict. He was appointed Thailand’s head of a special government committee on Myanmar less than two weeks ago. However, I’m reliably told that the vice foreign minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, also part of the Myanmare taskforce and who will remain in place, was leading the Thai response. Rumours are that Maris Sangiampongsa, Parnpree’s advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be his successor. According to reports, Maris had previously been a diplomatic officer at the Thai embassies in Brussels and Berlin.
So Parnpree’s exit won’t really alter European-Thai relations. But it isn’t a good look, especially as the Srettha government was attempting to improve Thailand’s image of political stability after two decades of coups and incompetent military governments. Yet, it’s rather obvious that Parnpree was overlooked because of nepotism. Indeed, last weekend’s cabinet reshuffle looks a lot like jobs for mates, especially the mates of Thaksin Shinawatra. Nikkei Asia published a good piece on that this week.
With Thailand in mind, I reached out for a lengthy interview with Chotima Iemsawasdikul, Director-General of the Department of Trade Negotiations of the Ministry of Commerce. Instead, I got an emailed comment back, which is here:
As we are in the initial stages of the talks, most issues of the Thailand-EU FTA are still on-going and under negotiation... There have already been two rounds of the Thailand-EU FTA negotiations until today. The 2nd round of the negotiations was also processed smoothly overall. Building on the successful talk in September 2023, this 2nd round of negotiations took place during the week of 22-26 January 2024 in Bangkok. 19 negotiating groups, as happened during the first round, met during the week to have a productive discussion on the entire spectrum of topics covered by the eventual agreement. All groups agreed to work closely, including organising intersessional meetings, to ensure that the 3rd round in Brussels progresses as much as possible.
At this point, I would like to reaffirm PM Srettha Thavisin’s earlier speech that the Thailand-EU FTA negotiation is considered one of Thailand’s priorities and that we look forward to its success as this FTA will help both Thailand and the EU expand trade and investment opportunities as well as strengthen both sides’ competitiveness. Thailand, once again, is keen to have fruitful talks with the EU to come up with creative and advantageous solutions for any issues and hopes that there will be further advancements in collaboration during the upcoming discussions.