Thailand and Vietnam Just Formed Their Own Mini-Bloc Inside ASEAN

Skyline of Bangkok behind the Flag of Thailand

The two countries pledged to nearly double bilateral trade to $25 billion within four years — and double it again after that.

Why the sudden alignment?

Battered by US tariffs and global shocksVietnam’s fast-growing economy is about to overtake Thailand as ASEAN’s second-largest economyBoth want supply chain resilience in electronics & semiconductorsAnalysts warn this could go either way: an ‘Asean‑plus’ effect pulling the bloc toward deeper integration — or just another ceremonial bilateral deal, leaving the broader regional architecture no stronger.EconomyChina Pushes Digital Yuan Into ASEAN Countries to Chip Away at Dollar Rule 24 December 2025, 16:00 GMT

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