Bangkok: The Minister of Foreign Affairs announced the results of participating in the global forum on combating online corruption. The Foreign Minister emphasized Thailand's active participation and leadership in international cooperation to combat online fraud while expressing concerns over the ongoing Middle East crisis and its impact on global energy security.
According to Thai News Agency, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkaew shared the outcomes of the Global Fraud Summit held in Vienna, Austria. He highlighted Thailand's proactive stance in promoting international collaboration to tackle the growing issue of sophisticated online scams. These scams, which have become increasingly complex, involve fraud, human trafficking, and forced labor, leading to global damages amounting to tens of billions of dollars. The summit, attended by relevant agencies worldwide, underscored the need for a unified approach to this transnational challenge.
Thailand has demonstrated its commitment by assisting in the repatriation of over 13,000 victims from 40 nationalities last year. To further combat this issue, Thailand proposed three strategic approaches: enhancing intelligence sharing, strengthening law enforcement cooperation, and bolstering capabilities in affected countries. Additionally, discussions with several countries aim to garner support for Thailand's membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and to organize a conference on online scams in Bangkok under the OSCE framework.
Addressing the Middle East situation, Mr. Sihasak acknowledged the absence of a resolution and reiterated Thailand's stance against violence, advocating for negotiations to end the conflict. He emphasized the importance of a peaceful resolution, citing the immense losses and prolonged recovery period. Thailand has coordinated with regional countries to evacuate hundreds of Thai citizens from high-risk areas, ensuring their safe return.
In response to the attack on a Thai cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, Thailand is working with Oman, Iran, and their navies to secure the rescue of remaining crew members. The strait is a critical route for oil and gas transportation, and escalating tensions could impact global energy prices and the economy. Thailand has requested Iran's cooperation to ensure the safety of its vessels in the area.
Moreover, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to propose reducing the visa exemption period for foreign tourists from 60 days to 30 days. Mr. Sihasak noted that the extended period might allow non-tourism-related activities, prompting a review to prevent potential security risks. The proposal aims to balance security concerns without affecting tourism or discriminating against any country. Concurrently, the Cabinet has ordered an investigation into foreigners' settlement and business operations in Thailand to safeguard national security.