On 23 April 2026, Miss Saranjit Srisarkun, Director of the Political and Security Division, Department of ASEAN Affairs attended the 24^th ASEAN Regional Forum Inter-Sessional Meeting on Disaster Relief (ARF ISM on DR). The meeting was held via videoconference and co-chaired by Vietnam, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The Meeting discussed and exchanged views on developments in cooperation and best practices, capacity-building efforts, the enhancement of synergy between regional and international disaster response mechanisms. Key topics included civil-military coordination, information-sharing, and early warning systems. Participants also received briefings from the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre).

Thailand underscored the importance of the ARF ISM on DR as a platform to move beyond dialogue toward practical cooperation.  Thailand emphasised the necessity of regular joint exercises and information-sharing, highlighting “disaster diplomacy” as a vital tool for building trust, confidence, and cooperation among Participants.

Furthermore, Thailand reported on the “Thailand’s Efforts to Strengthen ASEAN’s Coordination in Disaster Management and the Tabletop Exercise” project, held on 25–27 March 2026. This initiative aimed to enhance understanding of ASEAN disaster management mechanisms and strengthening inter-agency coordination within Thailand, in accordance with the ASEAN Standard Operating Procedure for Regional Standby Arrangements and Coordination of Joint Disaster Relief and Emergency Response Operations (SASOP).