Thailand considers buying Indian missiles "BrahMos"
Thailand has recently become a potential target for India's arms exports, and according to media reports, Thailand is in talks with India to purchase BrahMos missiles. However, the Indian media is overly optimistic about this and needs to be cautious about Thailand's choice. The technology for this missile originated from Russia, and although India was involved in its manufacture, Thailand may have considered it more in the purchase of the missile.
India emphasizes "Indian weapons", and Thailand may have other options
The picture shows an Indian missile
Although India has emphasized BrahMos as an "Indian weapon" in its foreign sales, Thailand is not the only one. China and Thailand have close ties in military cooperation, and China has also provided a variety of missile models for Thailand to choose from. Thailand may make a trade-off in terms of technology, performance and price, and ultimately make a decision that is more in line with the national interest.
Extensive military cooperation, but funding constraints affected the purchase program
The picture is from China and Thailand
China and Thailand have extensive cooperation in the military field, including weapons, warships, and military exercises. However, the purchase plan may be subject to funding constraints. Thailand may need to balance inputs and outputs in arms procurement, taking into account the modernization of its military while ensuring fiscal soundness, which may influence its final purchasing decisions.
India should remain cautious
The picture shows an Indian missile
India should be cautious about the news that Thailand is considering buying BrahMos. Although India and Russia have collaborated on the development of the missile, Thailand is not the only option in the missile market. China has its own self-developed missiles, and its technological strength cannot be underestimated. The Indian media should be objective and not overly optimistic so as not to mislead the public.
The second Philippines?
The picture shows an Indian warplane
Will Thailand's arms procurement program become a "second Philippines"? The Philippines was the first country to purchase BrahMos missiles, and there may be more than one batch. However, unlike the Philippines, Thailand is relatively militarily independent and is not subject to the same deep external constraints as the Philippines. Thus, simply treating Thailand as a "second Philippines" may be oversimplifying the complexity of its independent military decision-making.
Thailand shelved Chinese submarines, Indian media hyped "to buy Indian missiles"
The picture shows an Indian missile
It is noteworthy that Thailand previously shelved plans to purchase Chinese submarines. The new defense minister, Su Ting, has said that the Thai military will first seek to acquire a Chinese frigate, while the submarine project has been "shelved". This indicates that Thailand is hesitant to procure armaments and may be constrained by financial pressures. The Indian media's excessive hype of the news that Thailand is considering purchasing "BrahMos" missiles may be an over-interpretation of Thailand's arms purchase plan.
China is an important military partner of Thailand
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In recent years, Thailand has made significant investments in China's military equipment, which is not only reflected in the procurement of weapons and ammunition, but also in the introduction of warships. Recently, Thailand received the Chinese-built Type 071ET dock landing ship, a large warship that further strengthens military cooperation between the two countries. Thailand is also equipped with Chinese VN-16 amphibious assault vehicles and VT-4 main battle tanks, showing that the Thai army is gradually realizing "Chinese mechanization".
The military exercises between China and Thailand are frequent, and the cooperation has achieved remarkable results
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Military exercises between China and Thailand, such as the recent YJ-2023 exercise, demonstrate the close cooperation between the two countries in the military field. This close military relationship has had an impact on Thailand's decision-making on arms procurement. The equipment provided by China not only has performance advantages, but also has comprehensive support in the partnership, which makes Thailand consider more aspects when choosing an arms supplier.
Thailand's purchase plan may be affected by the shyness of the pocket
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Despite Thailand's aggressive arms procurement, Thailand's defense minister has suggested abandoning plans to buy Chinese submarines and using the funds to purchase Chinese fertilizers, hinting at military budget constraints. This "pocket-shy" posture may also have an impact on whether or not Thailand will purchase BrahMos missiles. With limited funding, Thailand is likely to be more cautious in assessing the cost-effectiveness of different missile systems, taking into account defense needs and financial strength.
Models exported from China are available for Thailand to choose from
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If Thailand finally decides to buy missile systems, it will not only be limited to India's BrahMos, but China will also provide a variety of export models with different performance characteristics and range. China's independent R&D capabilities and extensive experience in the production of military equipment make it a reliable supplier of armaments. Thailand is likely to take these factors into account when making decisions to achieve the best defense benefits.
conclusion
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Overall, India should calmly take the news of Thailand's purchase of BrahMos and not be overly optimistic. As a country with a strong independence, Thailand has autonomy and room for multiple choices in arms procurement. Its close military cooperation with China and its investment in China's military equipment suggest that Thailand is likely to take a multifaceted approach to decision-making. Therefore, the Indian media's over-hype of Thailand's purchase plan may be an over-interpretation, and the reality may be more complicated. #How to view the Philippine provocation at Second Thomas Shoal#
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