The 2025 visit to Gaborone by Ms. Sasirit Tangulrat, Director-General of the Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs, was marked by a promising discussion on areas of cooperation between Thailand and Botswana that have mutual benefits, particularly in trade, investment, public health, food security, tourism, and diamond-polishing and diamond-cutting upskilling. The Thai side sought support from the Botswana side for Thailand’s initiative to negotiate a free trade area agreement with the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), whose trade volume with Thailand currently accounts for more than 30 percent of Thailand’s total trade with Africa.
Thailand is increasingly turning to other regions as it navigates an evolving global landscape. The country has long been actively engaged in regional organizations, most notably ASEAN, but a new initiative by the Thai government aims to strengthen ties with Southern African countries through this proposed free trade area agreement. This move signifies Thailand's growing recognition of its strategic importance as a middle power and its aspirations for greater influence in global economic affairs.
Thailand’s policy towards Africa is marked by an emphasis on fostering closer engagement with regional and subregional organizations, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which comprises 16 member states. This engagement includes strengthening economic ties through trade agreements such as the one being pursued with SACU. For Thailand, cooperation with African countries holds significant strategic value given their importance in securing vital natural resources and markets for its economy.
Experts point out that South-South Cooperation represents a critical component of global governance, allowing developing nations to build stronger alliances and assert greater influence on international issues. “In recent years, the emphasis on South-South Cooperation has grown significantly as developing countries seek to strengthen their collective bargaining power in global trade negotiations,” notes Dr. Anurak Phrajsathan, Senior Fellow at the ASEAN Studies Centre. "This trend is also driven by a growing recognition of the critical role these nations will play in shaping global economic and security dynamics in the decades ahead."
However, concerns over unequal trade agreements and their implications for developing countries have raised questions about the fairness of Thailand’s pursuit of such agreements with SACU. Critics argue that while trade agreements can promote mutual benefit, they often serve to further entrench existing power imbalances between developed and developing nations.
Thailand's ambitions for a free trade area agreement with SACU underscore its recognition of these broader geopolitical dynamics. By pursuing such agreements, Thailand aims to secure greater access to key markets and natural resources in Africa while also enhancing its position within regional organizations.
Looking ahead, the success of this initiative will depend on several factors, including the ability of both parties to negotiate fair and equitable terms for their trade agreement, as well as the broader geopolitical climate. In the short term (next 6 months), there is a high likelihood that Thailand will face challenges in securing support from SACU member states, given concerns over unequal trade agreements.
In the long term (5–10 years), however, it seems increasingly likely that South-South Cooperation will play an even greater role in shaping global economic and security dynamics. As developing countries continue to assert their influence on the world stage, nations like Thailand are well-positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities for cooperation with other regions.
In conclusion, Thailand’s bid for a free trade area agreement with SACU represents a strategic move that reflects the country's growing recognition of its importance in global economic affairs. While challenges lie ahead, this initiative holds significant potential for promoting mutual benefit and strengthening ties between Southeast Asia and Southern Africa.