“Chief of Defence Forces of Thailand” Welcomes Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army; Discussions Focus on Strengthening Military and Security Cooperation, With Emphasis on Cybersecurity and Drone Technology

On 3 November 2026 at 9:00 AM at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, General Ukrit Boontanon, Chief of Defence Forces of Thailand, welcomed General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army—a position equivalent to the Chief of Defence Forces and Deputy Minister of National Defence of Vietnam—and his delegation. The visit, conducted at the invitation of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, served as an opportunity for formal introductions and the strengthening of bilateral relations.

During the visit, the Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army inspected a tri-service guard of honour and signed the guestbook at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters. Subsequently, at 9:15 AM, he held discussions with the Chief of Defence Forces of Thailand and senior commanders of the Royal Thai Armed Forces to exchange views and perspectives. This included strengthening cooperation between the two militaries. The Chief of Defence Forces highlighted the friendship and cooperation between the two nations, which has developed over more than 50 years. This long-standing bond serves as a vital foundation for expanding military and security cooperation into more tangible outcomes, facilitated by high-level visits and collaboration across various sectors.

Notably, the official visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam by His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen from September 14 to 16, 2026, undertaken at the invitation of To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of Vietnam, marks a highly significant milestone in the history of bilateral relations. It reflects the deep-rooted friendship and the shared desire of both Thailand and Vietnam to ensure the continued sustainability of their positive relationship.

Furthermore, the Chiefs of Defence Forces of both nations emphasised how technological advancements are reshaping the nature of threats and military operations. They agreed that both militaries should exchange lessons and experiences, particularly in the areas of cybersecurity, the protection of communication systems, and the safeguarding of critical national infrastructure, thereby fostering further technological progress between the two countries.

Subsequently, at 2:00 PM, the Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army attended a demonstration of military equipment, received a briefing, and engaged in an exchange of views regarding cooperation and the development of military technology between Thailand and Vietnam. The Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army expressed interest in several areas—notably unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology and UAV training centres—during a visit to the Defence Technology Institute (DTI). Furthermore, an invitation was extended to the DTI to participate in the VIETNAM DEFENCE EXPO 2026, to be held in Hanoi.

This visit to Thailand marks another significant milestone in strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the Thai and Vietnamese armed forces. It underscores a long-standing and close-knit relationship, one that will continue to be developed for the mutual benefit of both nations.