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Recently, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Thailand’s prime minister signed agreements to expand diplomatic relations between the two countries.
- The relations were restored only earlier this year, three decades after a high-profile jewelry theft, also known as the Blue Diamond Affair.
About Blue Diamond Affair
- Saudi Arabia downgraded its diplomatic relations with Thailand over the theft that led to a string of mysterious killings and became known as the Blue Diamond affair.
- It all started with the theft of jewelry and other valuable gems from the palace of Prince Faisal bin Fahd, the eldest son of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, in 1989.
- A Thai worker employed as a servant at the palace, stole precious gems worth $20 million from Prince Faisal’s home, which also included a rare 50-carat blue diamond, which is still missing.
- The ensuing diplomatic repercussion was thus named after the gem.
- Impacts:
- It resulted in loss of jobs for thousands of Thai migrant workers.
- Saudi Arabia stopped issuing work visas for Thais and discouraged its own citizens from visiting Bangkok.
- Present Saudi-Thailand relations: Recent The high-level meeting also saw the two leaders agreeing on the appointment of ambassadors “in the near future” and to strengthen economic and trade relations
- As the two countries turned a new page in their relationship, Saudi restarted direct flights to Thailand in February.
- Since January 2022, many friendly exchanges have taken place between the two countries — one being an agreement between state-owned energy firms Saudi Aramco and Thailand’s PTT for cooperation in carbon capture and crude oil sourcing.
- Recent Developments: In October 2022, Thailand hosted the controversial Saudi-backed circuit, LIV Golf Invitational.
- In November 2022, Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih attended a business forum in Bangkok meeting agriculture firms.
- Relevance: Restoration of ties has benefits for both countries, as the two leaders inked agreements pledging to increase trade and investment.
Source: IE
