Thailand seeks leading role in restoring Myanmar to Asean fold

Thailand hopes to bring Myanmar back into Asean nearly five years after a military coup, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow has said after meeting his Myanmar counterpart.“Thailand wants to be a bridge connecting Myanmar back to Asean,” Sihasak told reporters.“Myanmar must help Thailand as well by responding to Asean’s concerns, such as starting a dialogue process, which is a good thing; reducing violence; avoiding attacks on civilians,” Sihasak said, promising that “Thailand will show a leading role” in the process.Sihasak and Myanmar Foreign Minister Than Shwe held talks in southern Thailand on Wednesday. Than Shwe did not speak after the bilateral meeting.Foreign ministers Sihasak Phuangketkeow (right) and Than Shwe discuss Thailand-Myanmar relations on Wednesday. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs / ReutersThe 11-nation Asean grouping has excluded Myanmar’s top junta leaders from its main summit since shortly after a military coup in 2021 that toppled the first democratic administration in half a century and sparked nationwide conflict and repression.