Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul opened the Thailand Defence Industry Exhibition 2026 (THAIDEF-EX 2026) today, emphasising that Thailand is prepared to respond to any situation that may threaten the country while hoping for peace and always being ready to defend the nation.
"As head of the government, after visiting this exhibition, I am confident that if an event we do not wish to see were to occur but became unavoidable, Thailand would be ready, in line with the principle that while we hope for peace, we must always be prepared for war," he said.
The prime minister toured the exhibition aboard a Thai-made First Win mine-resistant armoured vehicle alongside Defence Minister Lt Gen Adul Boonthamcharoen.
In his keynote address, Anutin said the exhibition demonstrates Thailand's readiness not only to safeguard its sovereignty and national security but also to strengthen economic competitiveness and self-reliance at a time of increasing global uncertainty.
For Thailand, he said, developing the defence industry not only enhances national security but also creates opportunities to advance technology, strengthen industrial capabilities and generate greater economic value.
Thailand already possesses manufacturing expertise and enjoys a strategic geographic location that could enable it to become a competitive regional production base for defence technologies, he said.
Anutin described THAIDEF-EX 2026 as an important milestone in the country's development, saying it would encourage research, high-tech innovation, engineering expertise and the growth of Thai defence manufacturers into higher-value industries.
He noted that many technologies now widely used in civilian life, including drones, satellite navigation systems and advanced materials, originated from defence-related research.
The prime minister also pledged continued government support for closer cooperation among state agencies, universities and private companies to build an integrated defence research, development and manufacturing ecosystem.
He said the government would encourage the armed forces and other security agencies to procure more domestically produced defence equipment, helping local manufacturers further improve the quality and competitiveness of their products.
Anutin added that some Thai defence companies are already exporting military equipment overseas but are not yet supplying the domestic market.
He said such firms deserve greater government support through appropriate budget allocations to strengthen both national security and the local defence industry.
