News Forum - New Russian consulate opens in Phuket deepening Thailand-Russia ties

[Thaiger]

Sergey Lavrov, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Russia, unveiled the new Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Phuket at Royal Phuket Marina. The high-profile event, which took place yesterday, marked a significant development in the evolving diplomatic bonds between Thailand and Russia. Lavrov arrived at Royal Phuket Marina at 4pm where Phuket Vice Governor … …

The story New Russian consulate opens in Phuket deepening Thailand-Russia ties as seen on Thaiger News.

Read the full story

[Vigo]

Thailand has high expectations that it should have easy access to western markets. It also has far more of its nationals traveling to western nations for medical services, education, business and holidays than it does to Russia. Thailand has also regularly played China off against the free word, except that the Chinese have exploited the  desperate greedy Thai junta rather than the Chinese having been exploited. Now the generals welcome a man who has the blood of innocents dripping from his hands, while at the same time Thailand's non elected cabal crush democracy and deny the people's  choice of PM.

At some point the free world will say enough. Let the Russians fund the medical research and infrastructure. Tell the Thai students to study in Russia where they can encounter Russian racist sentiment first hand and let the Thai people seek medical treatments and innovation in Moscow rather than Paris or London or Boston.

[TheDirtyDurian]

2 hours ago, Vigo said:

Thailand has high expectations that it should have easy access to western markets. It also has far more of its nationals traveling to western nations for medical services, education, business and holidays than it does to Russia. Thailand has also regularly played China off against the free word, except that the Chinese have exploited the  desperate greedy Thai junta rather than the Chinese having been exploited. Now the generals welcome a man who has the blood of innocents dripping from his hands, while at the same time Thailand's non elected cabal crush democracy and deny the people's  choice of PM.

At some point the free world will say enough. Let the Russians fund the medical research and infrastructure. Tell the Thai students to study in Russia where they can encounter Russian racist sentiment first hand and let the Thai people seek medical treatments and innovation in Moscow rather than Paris or London or Boston.

The same free world full of Russian embassies too then is it?

[Vigo]

4 hours ago, TheDirtyDurian said:

The same free world full of Russian embassies too then is it?

An embassy and a consulate are different. Russia already has an embassy in Thailand.   The consulate is needed in  Phuket because of the free and easy entry of Russians into Thailand, the same Thailand which has refused to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Thailand has ignored the international sanctions in place and instead has  chosen to profit from the situation. The consulate is to serve the rapidly growing Russian presence.

Consulates are for immigration and business related activities. England has only one Russian diplomatic office, the embassy.  The USA has a Russian embassy in Washington DC,   a consular office in NYC because of the UN activity, and  a small consulate in Houston because of the space station agreement. Canada has a Russian embassy in Ottawa , a consulate office in Montreal because of UN ICAO/IATA and a reduced presence consulate in Toronto because of the large number of Russians in the region.  Yes there are some european countries with a several Russian consulates, but they are for pre-existing agreements or for the large Russian ex pat population. Additional Russian consulates are not opening in the free world.

[KhaoYai]

Lavrov should never have been allowed to set foot on Thai soil. However, both Russia and Thailand have some things in common - fake democracy for one.  Thailand continues its policy of welcoming anyone who they can profit from - no matter what that person may be guilty of. Note: I am referring to a member of the Russian government - this has nothing to do with the thousands of Russian tourists currently visiting Thailand.

This begs the question - should Putin, who has already been formally indicted for war crimes with arrest warrants issued, ever visit Thailand, will the Thai government comply with those warrants?  Its unlikely to happen but it would be interesting to see what Thailand would do if a wanted war criminal arrived on its doorstep - especially if that criminal is selling them cheap oil.

Edited July 17, 2023 by KhaoYai

[ChicagoExpat]

Russian diplomatic facilities abroad are primarily spy platforms with a few actual diplomats thrown in.  While on the one hand, tons of Russian money DOES flow into Phuket real estate and there are thousands of Russians there escaping the weather, conscription, and being pushed out of a window, Thailand should be very careful about what that consulate will be used for... and who staffs it.

[Pinetree]

Disgraceful, disgusting and vomit making. All Russians should be thrown out, not facilitated. Actually with Russian gangs, Mafia and anti social behavior common,  the Thai's are reaping what they sow. 

[ChrisS]

I guess as a country with no real democracy Thailand would reach out to others with no democracy for alliances. Russia and CCP must be laughing as they decide how to carve up Thailand between them. Mind you I suppose from Russia's point of view they need some consular services in Phuket to look after the increasing Russian mafia interests there.

Thailand once again shows how naive money grubbing and shameless their politics are.