[International] Thailand Denies Using Military Cooperation as Bargaining Chip, Reaffirms Security Cooperation with the US

The Thai government has reiterated that its long-standing military and security cooperation with the United States will proceed as planned. It stated that security cooperation with the US and ongoing trade tariff negotiations are separate matters and that military cooperation will not be used as a bargaining chip. Thai government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek on the 12th denied foreign media reports suggesting that Thailand was preparing to link its security and military cooperation with the US, including the annual "Cobra Gold" joint military exercise, to trade negotiations with the US. She emphasized that such claims do not represent government policy. The Bangkok Post reported today (13th) that the Thai government has no plans to use its military and security cooperation with the US as leverage in trade negotiations. Rachada stated that trade negotiations with the US are based on Thailand's economic interests, principles of fairness, and balance, and that all proposals will be evaluated for their impact on farmers, businesses, manufacturers, and the public. This clarification from the Thai government comes in response to a recent Bloomberg report, which cited informed officials, stating that Thailand had considered issuing a warning to the Trump administration that if the US insisted on imposing high tariffs, it might compel Thailand to reduce military cooperation, including the "Cobra Gold" joint military exercise, which forms the core of the two countries' military alliance. The report claimed that this proposal was intended to warn the Trump administration that punitive trade measures could jeopardize US security cooperation with Southeast Asia. The Nation pointed out that in response to the report, Rachada said: "Thailand's relationship with the United States is broad and deep, covering multiple aspects such as economy, trade, security, and people-to-people exchanges. Each area operates within its own framework and national interests. The government will not sacrifice national interests in one area for benefits in another." Rachada stated that bilateral security cooperation between Thailand and the US, including the "Cobra Gold" exercise in 2027, will continue according to the existing multi-year plan and will not be affected by trade negotiations. She added that such cooperation holds its own significance and is being pursued based on established agreements, not as a tool for trade negotiations. The "Cobra Gold" exercise in 2027 will be the 46th iteration and is part of a six-year training plan from 2025 to 2030, with 31 participating countries. Thailand and the US have a security partnership spanning decades. Thailand is one of only two treaty allies of the US in Southeast Asia, and the Thai-US alliance has long supported US military engagement in the region. The Bangkok Post noted that with China's expanding influence in Southeast Asia, the strategic significance remains crucial. Thailand is currently seeking to improve its trade conditions with the US. The US has proposed imposing a 12.5% tariff on most of Thailand's exported goods. Thailand had a trade surplus of $51.4 billion (approximately NT$1.6 trillion) with the US last year. (Editor: Liu Xianghua)