Thailand–Myanmar tensions

Abstract

Clashes on the Thailand-Myanmar border between those two countries' armed forces are a growing possibility. Thailand is rapidly losing patience with Yangon's dictatorship over its failure to address ethnic conflicts on the Myanmarese side of the border, the movement of refugees into Thailand and especially the influx of narcotics. Bangkok is now considering direct action against the armed groups in Myanmar responsible for drug trafficking and other cross-border activities considered threatening to Thailand's security. But the Myanmarese armed forces are themselves so involved in these activities that confrontation would be difficult to avoid.