Relationship dossier
Myanmar
Thailand
Relationship assessment
Economic interdependence coexists with persistent border-security and humanitarian challenges.
Myanmar toward Thailand
+15Myanmar's successive governments have cooperated with Thailand on cross-border trade and energy links, including natural-gas supplies to the Thai market. Conflict inside Myanmar has also generated refugee movements and security spillovers at the border.
Thailand toward Myanmar
+15Thai governments have maintained energy and trade ties with Myanmar and engaged its authorities on border and security matters. Thailand has also managed refugee movements and security incidents arising from conflict near the shared border.
Overall relationship
+10The relationship rests on durable energy and trade links and recurring government engagement, while conflict-related border pressures, refugee movements, and security concerns constrain cooperation. These practical ties support a mildly cooperative overall assessment despite persistent friction.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Myanmar and Thailand maintain substantial practical ties, including cross-border trade and Myanmar gas supplies to Thailand. Their governments also face recurring border-security and humanitarian pressures linked to conflict in Myanmar, including refugee movements and military activity near the frontier. The relationship combines ongoing economic cooperation with persistent security concerns.
Areas of tension
- Refugee movements from Myanmar into Thailand amid conflict.
- Security incidents and military activity near the shared border.
- Managing cross-border trade and security amid Myanmar's internal conflict.
Key developments
Natural-gas exports from Myanmar became a significant component of energy ties with Thailand.
Conflict in Myanmar has repeatedly driven refugee movements and security pressures along the Thai border.
Thailand continued engagement with Myanmar's military-led authorities following the 2021 coup, amid disagreements over responses to the crisis.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of bilateral border-security arrangements are unclear.
- The scale and continuity of cross-border humanitarian cooperation are uncertain.
- The effects of Myanmar's political changes on bilateral economic and security cooperation remain uncertain.