Sihasak signals upcoming reopening of Thai-Myanmar border checkpoints

Specifically, the Mae Sot–Myawaddy crossing—which has faced previous closures—is expected to resume operations. The Foreign Minister noted that the reopening aims to revitalize cross-border trade between the two nations.

Thai PBS Verify found the news in question on: Facebook

A social media post on Siam News (สยามนิวส์)’s Facebook page has been circulating with claims that Thailand is preparing to reopen its border checkpoints. The post is accompanied by a photograph of Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, shaking hands with Myanmar’s Vice President Nyo Saw. The caption reads:

“Sihasak reveals plans to reopen border checkpoints soon.” 

Published on April 23, 2026, the post has garnered significant attention with 1,500 likes and 1,200 comments

As the post did not explicitly specify which country’s border was involved, it led to a degree of public confusion, with some believing it referred to the Thai-Cambodian border. However, the accompanying photograph actually depicts Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow shaking hands with Myanmar’s Vice President Nyo Saw.

There are actual plans to reopen the Thai-Myanmar border checkpoints

Upon verification, a report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, published on April 22, 2026, confirms that Mr. Sihasak met with VP Nyo Saw. The meeting was held to discuss economic cooperation and strengthen bilateral ties between Thailand and Myanmar. The post states:

“H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, led a Thai business delegation to pay a courtesy call on H.E. U Nyo Saw, Vice President of Myanmar, to promote economic partnership between Thailand and Myanmar with a view to complement each other’s growth and development.

“Both sides agreed to coordinate closely to promote ease of doing business; reduce trade and investment barriers; revive border trade; promote cooperation on energy security as well as infrastructure and human resources development. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister also conveyed his thanks to the Myanmar Government for the full support for Thai businesses in Myanmar.”

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on April 22, 2026, Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow led a delegation of Thai private sector representatives to pay a courtesy call on Myanmar’s VP Nyo Saw.

A comparison between the social media news post (left) and the official photograph from the MFA (right).

On that same day, reports also indicated that Mr. Sihasak met with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, President of Myanmar, in Naypyidaw. Their discussions centered on bilateral trade and border security between Thailand and Myanmar.

The details are as follow:

“H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, paid a courtesy call on H.E. U Min Aung Hlaing, President of Myanmar, in Nay Pyi Taw during his official visit to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

“Both sides agreed to increase cooperation in border security, border trade, investment, energy security, and development cooperation. They also agreed to step up joint efforts to address cross-border challenges such as narcotic drugs, online scams, transboundary haze, and river pollution.

“Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Thailand’s role to help build bridges between Myanmar and ASEAN, and Thailand’s steadfast support for sustainable peace in Myanmar.”

An official image released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Sihasak indicates a potential reopening of Thai-Myanmar border checkpoints

Furthermore, according to a report from Thai PBS’s news program, Mr. Sihasak revealed that his discussions with Myanmar’s leadership focused on border trade, which had been previously hampered by the closure of the Myawaddy–Mae Sot crossing. The Foreign Minister noted he had received information suggesting the Mae Sot checkpoint may reopen soon. If successful, this move is expected to significantly boost bilateral trade. Additionally, the talks covered cooperation in combating transnational crime—specifically scam networks—and addressing cross-border air pollution affecting Northern Thailand, with both sides committing to finding long-term solutions.

Interview video of Mr. Sihasak by Thai PBS News [in Thai]

A further reverse image search via Google Lens identified a report from the Myanmar government’s official website. The report states that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow met with Myanmar’s Vice President Nyo Saw during their recent meeting. The two leaders discussed several key issues, including the strengthening of diplomatic ties and bilateral friendship, as well as promoting cooperation across multiple sectors—most notably economy, border trade, energy, and increased investment.

What is the truth?

Regarding the reports from Siam News’s Facebook page claiming that Thai-Myanmar border checkpoints are set to reopen soon, Thai PBS Verify has confirmed the information as true. 

In a recent interview, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow stated that during his discussions with Myanmar’s leadership, the reopening of the Mae Sot–Myawaddy crossing—which had previously faced closures—was a key topic. 

He noted that the reopening aims to revitalize trade between the two nations. Furthermore, the discussions extended to cooperation on border security, the suppression of transnational crime, and joint efforts to address the air pollution crisis in Northern Thailand, all of which require a collaborative approach to resolve.