Thailand has welcomed Myanmar’s decision to allow Kim Aris to speak to his detained mother, Aung San Suu Kyi, by telephone for the first time in more than five years, describing the move as a possible opening for renewed engagement with the crisis-hit country.

Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said on Saturday that the development offered some encouragement for Thailand’s gradual approach to dealing with Myanmar’s military authorities, while stressing that lasting progress would depend on steps taken by Myanmar itself.

According to Thai PBS World, Sihasak said Thailand had continued dialogue with Myanmar without granting legitimacy to its authorities. Bangkok, he added, was prepared to offer support but recognised the limits of external pressure in resolving the country’s political crisis.

Aris recently said he had spoken to his mother by telephone and that she sounded “fairly healthy”. Suu Kyi, 81, has been detained since the military seized power in February 2021, overthrowing her elected government.

Sihasak also pointed to a visit by the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to Suu Kyi as another encouraging development, saying it had helped reassure the international community about her condition.

Thailand wants Myanmar to return to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), from whose high-level political meetings its military leadership has largely been excluded since the 2021 coup over its failure to make progress on the bloc’s peace efforts.

However, Sihasak said Myanmar’s authorities must demonstrate a genuine commitment to change, including opening dialogue with opposition groups. ASEAN members would need to assess whether recent developments represented meaningful progress before deciding on the country’s participation.

The Myanmar crisis is expected to feature in ministerial-level discussions ahead of the ASEAN leaders’ summit in November. Sihasak said Thailand would consider the bloc’s next steps in light of the latest developments.

He added that any decision on Myanmar’s return would rest with ASEAN members, expressing hope that continued improvements would create a path for the country to rejoin the regional grouping.

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