Thai military formally welcomes Myanmar defence chief ahead of HLC
Thailand welcomed Myanmar defence chief Gen Ye Win Oo ahead of the ninth HLC meeting, with both sides discussing security, border management and military education.
- Myanmar's Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Gen Ye Win Oo, was formally welcomed in Bangkok by the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
- The visit precedes the ninth Thailand-Myanmar High-Level Committee (HLC) meeting and is the General's first overseas trip since his appointment.
- The two military chiefs discussed strengthening cooperation in security, military education, border management, and joint responses to cross-border challenges.
- Gen Ye Win Oo also thanked Thailand for providing humanitarian assistance to Myanmar following a recent earthquake.
The Royal Thai Armed Forces formally welcomed Myanmar’s Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Gen Ye Win Oo, during his official visit to Thailand on Wednesday (August 19), ahead of the ninth Thailand-Myanmar High-Level Committee (HLC) meeting.
Gen Ukris Boontanondha, Chief of Defence Forces of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, received Ye Win Oo, his wife and delegation at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters in Bangkok.
The visit marks Ye Win Oo’s first overseas trip since taking up the post of Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services.
Ye Win Oo inspected a tri-service guard of honour before paying a courtesy call on Ukris, who congratulated him on becoming Myanmar’s ninth Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services on March 30.
Ukris also highlighted the longstanding relationship between Thailand and Myanmar, which will mark the 78th anniversary of diplomatic relations on August 24, 2026. He noted that cooperation between the neighbouring countries and their armed forces had continued to develop.
The two military chiefs exchanged views on strengthening cooperation in security, education and training, as well as the management of natural resources, the environment and energy.
Ukris welcomed the continued participation of Myanmar officers in education and training programmes at Thai military institutions. He also expressed readiness to accept Myanmar officers into a joint staff course when enrolment opens in the future.
Border cooperation and shared challenges
The Thai defence chief stressed the importance of existing bilateral mechanisms, particularly the Township Border Committee (TBC) and Regional Border Committee (RBC), in coordinating security cooperation and addressing problems along the border.
Both sides have maintained regular coordination through these mechanisms and have also worked together on natural resources and environmental issues, including problems affecting communities in both countries such as forest fires, haze and flooding.
Ye Win Oo described his official visit to Thailand as an honour and welcomed the opportunity to attend the ninth Thailand-Myanmar HLC meeting, scheduled for August 20-21.
He expressed support for continued cooperation between the two countries and their armed forces, particularly efforts aimed at maintaining peace and security for people in both countries.
Myanmar thanks Thailand for earthquake assistance
Ye Win Oo also thanked Thailand and the Royal Thai Armed Forces for providing humanitarian assistance to Myanmar following the March 28, 2025 earthquake.
He emphasised the importance of exchange visits and cooperation in military education, including opportunities to develop diploma and bachelor’s degree programmes for Myanmar personnel.
The proposed programmes would focus partly on improving Thai-language skills and strengthening mutual understanding between personnel from the two armed forces.
The visit comes ahead of the ninth HLC meeting and focuses on expanding cooperation in security, military education, border management and responses to cross-border challenges affecting both countries.
