Portugal and Thailand have maintained, for centuries, Portugal and Thailand have maintained amicable relations throughout their shared history, avoiding bilateral conflicts. Consequently, their relationship has been consistently characterised by positive historical memories rather than by the legacy of significant disputes.
In fact, Thai-Portuguese relations developed without episodes of direct conflict, having largely avoided conflicts and historical grievances, the kinds of political, territorial and military conflicts that have often complicated relations between states, especially those with centuries of interaction.
Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in the early sixteenth century - Portugal was the first European country arriving to Thailand. 1511 was the year the King Manuel I sent his first Ambassador to the King of Ayutthaya, Ramathibodi II. Since, the two countries have generally maintained cordial and mutually beneficial relations. Although periods of changing geopolitical circumstances occasionally affected the intensity of their engagement, these shifts did not generate major bilateral disputes. As a result, the relationship accumulated a reservoir of positive historical memories, grounded in early diplomatic contacts, commercial exchanges, and cultural interaction. The absence of significant antagonism has allowed both countries to view their shared past through a largely constructive lens, fostering goodwill and providing a favourable foundation for contemporary cooperation in areas such as diplomacy, trade, education and cultural exchange.
This historical trajectory enabled the accumulation of positive collective memories centred on early diplomatic recognition, commercial cooperation and sustained people-to-people exchanges. Such favourable historical perceptions have contributed to a high degree of mutual trust and goodwill, reinforcing contemporary diplomatic engagement. The relationship therefore illustrates how the absence of contentious historical legacies can function as a valuable form of diplomatic capital, supporting stable and cooperative ties across different historical periods.
In this sense, I would say that the long-standing bilateral relation between the two countries is, without question, an example worth following.
Luiz de Albuquerque Veloso
Ambassador of Portugal to Bangkok
10 June 2026 - Portuguese National Day, which celebrates the 16th-century Portuguese poet, Luiz Vaz de Camões.
