On 2 February 2026, the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs (DVIFA) and the International Studies Center (ISC), together with the Prince Saud Al Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies (IDS), co-organised the 2nd Saudi Arabia - Thailand Academic Dialogue in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Thanop Panyapattanakul, Ambassador attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs co-chaired with Dean of DVIFA, and Dr. Moshobab Alkahtani, Director-General of IDS, and jointly delivered the opening remarks. They commended the use of this forum to review the progress made in Thailand - Saudi Arabia bilateral relations in multiple dimensions, particularly in trade and investment. Both sides were keen to maintain momentum and to explore potential areas for further collaboration, including more exchanges between their respective diplomatic institutes. This Dialogue is one of the activities under the initiative between DVIFA and IDS under the Political and Consular Committee of the Saudi - Thai Coordination Council (STCC), co-chaired by the Foreign Ministers of Thailand and Saudi Arabia. The Dialogue this year comprised academic discussion on four topics: (1) the state of bilateral relations in a changing regional context in the Middle East and Southeast Asia; (2) global economic realignment and bilateral opportunities; (3) Thailand and Saudi Arabia’s roles as middle powers in a fragmented international order; and (4) strategies to strengthen the security of maritime routes.
In addition, the Ambassador attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dean of DVIFA had a discussion with the Director-General of IDS to exchange perspectives and information on diplomatic training, as well as discuss opportunities for further collaboration, as well as to visit the IDS premises. On 3 February 2026, the Ambassador attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dean of DVIFA also exchanged views with Team Thailand officials and received a briefing on recent developments in Saudi Arabia and on the status of bilateral relations, building on the outcomes of the academic dialogue.