Thailand denies using military ties as leverage in US trade talks

Thailand has denied reports that it plans to use military and security cooperation as leverage in trade negotiations with the United States, saying the talks will focus solely on the country’s economic interests, fairness and trade balance.

Government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said on Wednesday that reports suggesting Thailand would link military and security cooperation to the outcome of trade negotiations with the US were untrue and did not reflect government policy.

She said the government would carefully consider US proposals, especially their potential impact on farmers, businesses, the manufacturing sector and the Thai public.

Rachada was responding to an international media report, citing sources who claimed that the Thai government was planning to use its long-standing security and military cooperation with the United States as leverage in upcoming trade negotiations.

The move was reportedly intended to warn the US administration that tougher US tariffs could force Thailand to reconsider the level of military cooperation, including the Cobra Gold exercise, a cornerstone of one of the US’s oldest security alliances in Asia.

The report described the move as an unusual attempt by Thailand to use its decades-old security ties with Washington as leverage in negotiations that would normally focus solely on trade.

Rachada said the goal of the trade negotiations was to reach an agreement under which both sides would receive appropriate benefits, without imposing an excessive burden on key sectors in Thailand.

She said Thailand-US security and military cooperation had existed for many years and was based on shared security interests.

Cobra Gold 27 will be the 46th edition of the exercise under the six-year training plan for 2025-2030, with 31 countries taking part.

The exercise aims to enhance capabilities and preparedness to respond to both conventional and emerging threats.

A planning conference will be held in Hawaii next month to prepare for the actual exercise in March next year, Rachada said.