Diplomatic relations between the member states of the German Customs Union and the Kingdom of Siam were established in 1862 with the signing of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation. This followed on from the trade treaty between the Hanseatic cities of Hamburg, Lübeck and Bremen and the Kingdom of Siam of 1858.

Today, Thailand is one of Germany’s most important partners in southeast Asia. It is a key player in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The two countries also cooperate closely in multilateral institutions such as the United Nations. Five of Germany’s political foundations are represented in Thailand.

Germany is Thailand’s most significant trading partner in the European Union. Alongside the approximately 600 German companies which are active in Thailand, German tourists (approximately 800,000 in 2024) also play a part in bilateral economic relations.

Germany is Thailand’s largest bilateral climate partner and promotes bilateral and regional climate change mitigation projects within the framework of the International Climate Initiative (IKI).

The Goethe-Institut in particular is breathing life into the cultural agreement signed by the two countries back in 1984 through a wide-ranging programme of cultural events and language courses. At the same time, more than 300 cooperation partnerships between German and Thai higher education institutions are fostering academic exchange. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) also plays a role in this area, providing four lectors, as well as scholarships and student advice services.

Two German-language schools in Bangkok and Chiang Mai are recognised as Excellent German Schools Abroad and receive funding from the Central Agency for Schools Abroad (ZfA) on behalf of the Federal Foreign Office.