Australian Minister for Defence visit to Thailand
23 August 2017
The Australian Minister for Defence, Senator the Honourable Marise Payne, is visiting Thailand from 23 to 24 August as part of a South East Asia regional tour focused on strengthening defence relationships and promoting regional cooperation between Australia and Thailand.
During her visit to Bangkok, Minister Payne will conduct bilateral meetings with the Thai Prime Minister His Excellency General Prayut Chan-o-cha, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, His Excellency General Prawit Wongsuwan, to discuss the long standing and close defence relationship between Australia and Thailand, share views on the region’s changing dynamics and discuss issues that affect collective security and prosperity.
Minister Payne will visit the Royal Palace to sign the condolence book for the late His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Minister Payne will also visit the new Australian Embassy in Bangkok where Australian Defence personnel are training members of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, an example of the how our two nations cooperate on defence activities. The Minister will later visit the Royal Thai Armed Forces’ Counter Terrorism Operations Centre (CTOC) where Australia conducts counter-terrorism training exercises with the Thais on an annual basis.