Amist recent geopolitical tensions, countries are seeking measures to maintain their positions. Thailand, as a middle country, actively engages with multiple international organizations. As the report said, Thailand declared its intention to join OECD and BRICS, as well as to become a member of IPEF. It is clearly indicated that it will not either choose the west or China, instead, it prioritizes its own national interest to play as a bridging country. Thailand hopes that it is able to converge the west and the east for global peace. Moreover, it believes that the multilateralism could help the country address economic struggles and expand partnerships for further new markets. In this essay, I will analyze pros and cons of multilateralism that effect Thailand's strategy among the superpower competition.
On the one hand, multilateralism offers various advantages to Thailand, including new partnerships, reciprocal agreements, investments, and enhanced negotiation power. For Thailand, these cooperation contribute positive outcomes in each party. A rich countries bloc named OECD, for example, could supply a valuable knowledge for the national development and advanced economic progress. Similarly, IPEF initiated by the US will support cooperative opportunities to members' mutual econimic interests and capacity-building to face emerging challenges. In addition, BRICS led by developing nations like China, Russia, and India, will also provide chances to engage with emerging countries over the world such as Brazil, South Africa, and especially its expanded states such as Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Ethiopia. These all nations might be significant future markets for Thailand.
On the other hand, multirateral cooperation can lead Thailand to some challenges. In the international environment, states often play in a zero-sum game, some gains while others lose. More specifically, OECD members or even BRICs countries may establish rules that serve their interests and appropriate for thier environment while might be unsuitable to Thailand's domestic context. This is considered Thailand to be a underdog in this game. What is more joining the Western-led organizations, whereas also engaging counter-western blocs lead a double-edged sword to Thailand. Aligning with two largest competitive blocs grow distrust and suspicions to superpower states. The West might question Thailand's intentions in participating in BRICS. Similarly, China possibly hesitates to believe the movement of Thailand involving OECD. As a result, this could hinder Thailand's ability to effectively pursue its foreign policy goal of acting as a bridge builder.
To conclude, Thailand's proactive approach, in persuing a bridge-builder role, adopts multilateralism to serve itself national interest. However, the concept contributes both positive and negative consequences. The benefits include new markets, trade agreements, and increased national influence. Meanwhile, the challenges involve an inequitable conditions and distrust among superpowers. To successfully fulfill its bridge-builder ambition, Thailand must strategically balance these adventages and challenges by taking strategic consideration before commiting any blocs, as well as, working to build trust within the global community.
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