The International Relations and Global Affairs (IRGA) program of Mahidol University International College (MUIC) invited His Excellency Mark Gooding, Ambassador of the UK to Thailand, to be the guest speaker in a forum entitled “Post Brexit UK Policy in Southeast Asia” held on October 25, 2023.
Speaking at the jampacked Charinyarasami Hall, Aditayathorn Building, Amb. Gooding stressed the importance of Southeast Asia to the UK’s foreign policy. He said that the UK shares many values with countries in the region, including the importance of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and freedom and democracy and thus further strengthen links with the region’s political and economic institutions. He noted that his country has to work more closely with Southeast Asian countries in the areas of climate change, maritime security, bioenergy, and peace and security among others.
The ambassador also emphasized the importance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its centrality in the region’s affairs. At the same time, he said it is also vital for the UK to maintain its good bilateral relations with countries in the region.
Regarding Brexit, Ambassador Gooding said that this does not mean that the UK has forsaken European values. Instead, it has granted the UK with the space it needs to deepen its trade relationships not only with Southeast Asia but also Australia and New Zealand as UK continues to advocate for free trade.
With regard to Southeast Asia’s political security, he said the leading concerns are Russia’s influence in the region, the political situation in Myanmar, China’s aggressive actions towards its neighbors including the South China Sea dispute. In Thailand, the ambassador said his country is working to establish more productive dialogue with the government on the issues of organized crime and human trafficking.
