Thailand–Turkey relations

Thailand–Turkey relations are the foreign relations between Thailand and Turkey. The cordial relations between the two countries date back to 1958, when Turkey set up its embassy in Bangkok.[1] Thailand reciprocated by opening its embassy in 1972.[2]

Thai-Turkish relations

Thailand
Turkey
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Thailand, AnkaraEmbassy of Turkey, Bangkok
Envoy
Ambassador Phantipha Iamsudha EkarohitAmbassador Evren Dağdelen Akgün

Diplomatic Relations

Through the 1980s[3] and 1990s,[4] both Thailand’s and Turkey’s foreign policy was pro-Western,[5] united in the belief[6] that the spread of communism, communist China for Thailand[7] and the Soviet Union for Turkey,[8] posed a threat to the world. During this time, as a result of apprehension over Soviet intentions[9] toward Vietnam, Thailand maintained close economic and security ties with Turkey.[10] Since then, relations have remained close and cordial.

Country comparison
 Thailand  Turkey
Flag
State Emblem / National Emblem
Population 66,558,935 83,154,997
Area 513,120 km2 (198,120 sq mi) 783,356 km2 (302,455 sq mi)
Population density 132.1/km2 (342.1/sq mi) 105/km2 (271.9/sq mi)
Capital Bangkok Ankara
Government Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy Unitary presidential constitutional republic
Current Leader Monarch Vajiralongkorn
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha		 President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Vice President Fuat Oktay
Official languages Thai Turkish
Main religions 94.50% Buddhism, 4.29% Islam 97.6% Islam, 1.1% Judaism, 0.3% Christianity
Ethnic groups 86% Thai, 3% Khmer, 2% Malay 85% Turkish, 9% Kurdish 6% Others
Human Development Index (HDI) 0.765 (high)[11] — 77th 0.806 (very high)[12]— 59th
GDP (PPP) $1.390 trillion ($20,474 per capita) $2.464 trillion[13] ($29,326 per capita)

Economic Relations
  • Trade volume between the two countries was US$1.34 billion in 2019 (Turkish exports/imports: 0.26/1.1 billion USD).[14]
  • The 1966 Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations, facilitates Thai and Turkish companies’ access to one another's markets.[15]
  • The 2017 Thailand–Turkey Free Trade Agreement are ongoing as of 2020.[16]
  • There are direct flights from Istanbul to Bangkok (21 flights per week) and Phuket (7 flights per week).[17]

Cultural Relations
  • As Thailand and Turkey celebrated the 60th anniversary of their relationship in 2018, Turkey declared that year as the Year of Thailand.[18]
  • Turkey's development assistance between 2004 and 2013 to Thailand was valued at US$66.5 million.[19]
  • TIKA has carried out the restoration project of Bang Uthit Mosque in Bangkok (2014–2015).[20]
  • Turkey funds higher education scholarships for Thai students to study through various programs. Thailand’s alumni network from Turkish Scholarships program has grown to more than 400-members strong since the program's inception in 1992.[21]

See also

References
  1. "Relations between Turkey and Thailand". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
  2. "Relations between Turkey and Thailand". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
  3. Wyatt, David K. Thailand: A Short History. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1984.
  4. Phuangkasem, Corrine. Thailand's Foreign Relations 1964-94. (Occasional Paper, No. 74.) Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 1995.
  5. Morrison, Charles E., and Astri Suhrke. Strategies of Survival: The Foreign Policy Dilemmas of Smaller Asian States. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1979.
  6. "The Politics of Intergovernmental Relations in Thailand," Asian Survey, 19, No. 5, May 1979, pp. 506-22.
  7. "Three Cardinal Principles for Thai-Turkey Relations," Bangkok Post, December 17, 1986, 4.
  8. "Three Cardinal Principles for Thai-Turkey Relations," Bangkok Post, December 17, 1986, 4.
  9. Niksch, Larry A. "Thailand in 1980: Confrontation with Vietnam and the Fall of Kriangsak," Asian Survey, 21, No. 2, February 1981, pp. 223-31.
  10. Juree Vichit-Vadakan. "Thailand in 1985: Year of Facing up to Facts," Asian Survey, 26, No. 2, February 1986, pp. 174-85.
  11. "2019 Human Development Index Ranking | Human Development Reports". hdr.undp.org. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  12. "2019 Human Development Index Ranking | Human Development Reports". hdr.undp.org. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  13. "International Monetary Fund, Report on selected countries". International Monetary Fund.
  14. "Turkey-Thailand Economic and Trade Relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
  15. "Turkey-Thailand Economic and Trade Relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
  16. "Turkey-Thailand Economic and Trade Relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
  17. "Turkey-Thailand Economic and Trade Relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
  18. "Turkey-Thailand Economic and Trade Relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
  19. "Turkey-Thailand Economic and Trade Relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
  20. "Turkey-Thailand Economic and Trade Relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
  21. "Turkey-Thailand Economic and Trade Relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
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