19-10-2023 (BANGKOK) Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to visit Thailand and Vietnam, accepting invitations extended by the governments of the two South-East Asian nations. As Putin faces international isolation due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, these invitations provide a rare opportunity for diplomatic engagement.
While Putin has found himself with dwindling allies, Thailand, a non-state party to the International Criminal Court (ICC) Rome Statute, has chosen to maintain cooperation with Russia despite the ICC issuing an arrest warrant for Putin over the alleged deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia. Vietnam, on the other hand, has a longstanding relationship with Russia since the days of the Soviet Union.
President Vo Van Thuong of Vietnam extended an invitation to Putin to visit Vietnam “soon,” which Putin enthusiastically accepted, as stated on the government’s website on Tuesday. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, during a visit to Beijing, also invited Putin for an official visit next year. The invitation was extended during their meeting on the sidelines of China’s Belt and Road Initiative forum.
Prime Minister Srettha mentioned Putin’s fondness for Phuket, a popular Thai resort island, and expressed his hope that Putin would visit Thailand in the near future. Although Putin has accepted the invitation, no specific date has been set yet, according to a statement by the Thai government.
During his meeting with Prime Minister Srettha, Putin expressed his concern about the decline in bilateral trade between Russia and Thailand due to the “turbulent international situation,” as reported by the TASS Russian news agency. Thailand, heavily reliant on tourism, has recently extended visa arrangements for Russians, allowing them to visit the kingdom for up to three months, an increase from the previous 30-day limit.
Thailand, along with China and India, abstained from a UN General Assembly vote last year that condemned Russia’s annexation of parts of Ukraine. This stance demonstrated Thailand’s cautious approach toward the Ukrainian crisis.
According to Vietnam’s government website, President Thuong and Putin discussed enhancing economic and trade cooperation during their meeting. Russia remains a top arms supplier to Vietnam, reinforcing the longstanding ties between the two nations.
