Thailand backs Myanmar's ASEAN normalization

Thailand has offered to play a leading role in Myanmar's bid to normalize its ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Thai foreign minister made the statement ahead of a meeting on Wednesday with Myanmar's new President, Min Aung Hlaing. Myanmar has been largely sidelined by the regional bloc for five years following a military coup and subsequent violent crackdown on dissent. Thailand's initiative signals a potential shift in diplomatic engagement with the isolated state.