The Thai delegation’s visit to Russia has underscored its success in strengthening its strategic partnership and boosting bilateral ties with Moscow, and also reflects the geopolitical power play between Thailand and world superpowers.
Because Western democracies have imposed restrictive sanctions on the military regime, Deputy Prime Ministers Prawit Wongsuwon, who oversees security affairs, and Somkid Jatusripitak overseeing economic affairs, have approached Moscow to strengthen bilateral ties and express interest in trade, tourism, trains, tanks and other technology.
Russia's pledges cover cooperation with Thailand to set up a factory to manufacture military equipment as well as invest in railways in Thailand.
Analysts believe with Russia's support, Thailand stands to gain more diplomatic leverage with the West led by the United States, which is looking to expand its influence in Southeast Asia. Thailand hopes to bring the regional geopolitical power play among major nations into balance.
"The visit to Russia clearly reflects the interest of the military government in being perceived to be redirecting Thailand's foreign policy away from the West towards China and Russia, both of which have an increasingly troubled relationship with the United States," said Anthony Davis, Bangkok-based security analyst for security consulting firm IHS-Jane's.
"This is a situation which offers Moscow and Beijing real opportunities for widening an important strategic relationship in Southeast Asia," he said.
Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University, said China will inevitably enter this picture.
"While the US is trying to outflank China with the US-Asean summit, Russia is evidently upping its game in Southeast Asia," said Mr Thitinan.
"The move on Southeast Asia was cooked up a long time ago. The intensifying major power contest for Southeast Asia, which has become a nexus of prosperity and insecurity, will bring more geopolitical tensions to the region."
Mr Thitinan said the new talks with Russia will bring China into the equation.
"Mainland Southeast Asia is China's backyard. They have to accommodate China but Asean maritime states also have problems with Beijing," said the Chulalongkorn political scientist.
"In the broader mix, Thailand has to go the authoritarian way for a while. Having Russia in the mix would reduce its dependence on China. Without Russia, Thailand will rely only on China. With Russia, Thailand can increase its leverage with China and the Western world."
Defence Ministry spokesman Khongcheep Tantravanich on Friday revealed the outcome of the visit to Russia by the delegation led by Gen Prawit and Mr Somkid from Tuesday to Thursday.
The delegation, which included Thai security and economic officials, met Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin and Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov.
They discussed cooperation on trade, science, technology, energy, food, security, military affairs and tourism.
On military issues, Thailand wants Russia's cooperation to develop Thailand's defence industry as well as to procure Russian equipment to support national defence, disaster response and national development, especially the construction of water resources.
Thailand proposed that Russia buy Thai farm products in return, Maj Gen Khongcheep said.
He quoted Mr Medvedev as saying Russia could respond to Thailand's needs for military cooperation and equipment.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev greets Prawit Wongsuwon, deputy prime minister and minister of defence, at the start of their meeting on Friday. (Photo courtesy Ministry of Defence)
"Currently Russia is looking to boost military sales in the Southeast Asian region generally," said Mr Davis of IHS-Jane's.
"The problem that Thailand recently experienced with procurements from Ukraine presents Moscow with a golden opportunity," he said.
"Russian military hardware such as the main battle tanks that the Royal Thai Army are interested in are high-quality products which typically cost less than their Western equivalent."
Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said the visit to Russia by the Thai delegation has underscored the cordial relations between the two countries.
The visit by two deputy prime ministers was special and unprecedented, he said.
It is Thailand's initiative to blend military and economic cooperation together, which will serve as a model to promote ties with other countries, Mr Don said.
Last year, the value of trade between Thailand and Russia reached US$2.4 billion (about 85 billion baht) accounting for 0.56% of Thailand's total trade.
Thailand had a trade deficit with Russia of $929 million.
Thailand mainly exports vehicles, rubber products, gems and jewellery, plastic pellets and canned fruits to Russia while it imports crude oil, fertilisers, iron and steel as well as mining ores.
Beside military issues, Thai officials also proposed that Russia invest in energy, information technology, aviation, transport and railway projects in Thailand.
Russia could export products through Thailand to other Southeast Asian nations, according to Maj Gen Khongcheep.
Thailand also seeks to negotiate a free trade area with Eurasian Economic Union members including Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan to promote trade and investment, he said.