BIMSTEC summit in doubt: PM Oli’s Thailand visit uncertain

Kathmandu, August 20 - Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s planned visit to Thailand has been clouded by uncertainty. Thailand is set to host the sixth Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit on September 3 and 4. However, the summit is facing complications that could affect the Prime Minister's attendance.

Recent developments include the recent change in Thailand’s leadership, ongoing internal disputes in Bangladesh, internal conflicts in Myanmar, and Sri Lanka’s upcoming prime ministerial election. These issues have created confusion surrounding the BIMSTEC conference, which Thailand is supposed to host.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was removed from his post by the Thai Constitutional Court just four days after his appointment. It remains unclear how Thailand’s new administration will approach the BIMSTEC summit.

Sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicate that the plans for the BIMSTEC meeting in Thailand are still unsettled, impacting Prime Minister Oli's schedule. With only two weeks remaining before the conference, preparations appear to be lagging.

While internal preparations for Prime Minister Oli's trip were underway, the political upheavals in Thailand and disputes among member countries have cast doubt on the summit’s execution. The last preparatory meeting for the conference was held in Thailand on August 1, and no subsequent meetings have taken place. The Foreign Ministerial meeting of BIMSTEC was held in India on July 22, where then Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa urged for a successful summit, but recent developments have disrupted those preparations.

Additionally, Bangladesh’s political instability, with Mohammad Yunus appointed as interim Prime Minister following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, could affect participation. Yunus’s strained relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi raises concerns about Bangladesh’s involvement.

Sri Lanka’s prime ministerial election on September 21 also casts doubt on high-level participation in the BIMSTEC summit. Myanmar’s unresolved conflicts and recent devastating floods further complicate the situation.

As a result of these uncertainties, Prime Minister Oli’s first foreign visit, initially planned for Thailand, is now likely to be redirected. It is anticipated that he may visit India instead before heading to the United Nations General Assembly in the United States, where he is scheduled to speak on October 10.