Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Vijavat Isarabhakdi has underscored that today’s rapidly evolving geopolitical and technological landscape has made transnational threats in the digital era increasingly complex and interconnected, ranging from cybercrime to disinformation and broader impacts on human, energy, food, and economic security. He stressed the importance of closer international and interregional cooperation in addressing these shared challenges.

In his opening remarks at the OSCE 2026 Asian Conference in Bangkok on 28 May 2026, Mr. Vijavat underlined that Thailand is committed to leveraging its role as the only OSCE Partner for Co-operation from ASEAN to help strengthen linkages between ASEAN, Asia and Europe.

The OSCE 2026 Asian Conference was co-hosted by Thailand and Finland on 28-29 May 2026, under the theme “Countering Transnational Threats in the Digital Era through Enhanced Co-operation in Asia and the OSCE Region,” 

In attendance were over 150 representatives from 36 OSCE participating States and Asian Partners for Co-operation. The meeting discussed efforts to promote cooperation and exchange of knowledge, experiences, and best practices, with a focus on addressing transnational threats in the digital era.

At the conference, the Ambassador of Thailand to Austria and Head of the Thai Delegation to the OSCE, and the Acting Director-General of the Department of European Affairs, delivered Thailand's national statements. Four Thai representatives also participated as speakers in all three sessions of the Conference, namely (1) Ms. Chomparee Chomphurat, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, highlighting Thailand’s integrated approach to combating technology-related crimes and online scams, including key domestic mechanisms such as the Anti-Online Scam Operation Center (AOC), (2) Ms. Oramone Chantapant, Senior Director, Bank of Thailand, sharing Thailand’s approaches to strengthening economic and financial resilience against transnational threats in the digital era, (3) Asst. Prof. Dr. Bhanubhatra Jittiang, Thailand’s Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), presenting best practices on media and information literacy to promote human rights and strengthen interregional security in the digital era, and (4) Mr. Panu Wongcha-um, Senior Correspondent, Thomson Reuters (Thailand), sharing media’s role as a practitioner that needs adaptability amid the challenges of disinformation to transparently present fact-based information.

On 28 May, participants visited the Anti Cyber Scam Center (ACSC) to learn more about Thailand’s integrated mechanisms and operational approaches in combating online scams, reflecting Thailand’s leading role in addressing transnational threats in a concrete manner. 

Thailand has been one of the five OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation (along with Afghanistan, Australia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea) since 2000 and has played an active role as the sole Asian partner from ASEAN in bridging Asia, Europe, and ASEAN in advancing peace, security, and sustainable international cooperation.

On 28 May, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkaew had discussions with Mr. Feridun Sinirlioğlu, OSCE Secretary-General, who paid his first visit to Thailand to attend the 2026 OSCE Asian Conference,

The OSCE Secretary-General expressed his appreciation to Thailand, as the only ASEAN country that is an Asian Partner for Co-operation of the OSCE, for its outstanding role in promoting dialogues and cooperation between the OSCE and ASEAN, including driving cooperation on security issues of mutual interest, which is crucial in the current highly uncertain international environment.

The OSCE, which stands for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, is the world’s largest regional security organization, with over 57 participating States from Europe, North America, and Central Asia. It was established during the Cold War to strengthen the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and to serve as a forum for consultation, resolution, prevention, and settlement of disputes and conflicts in Europe.