Thailand Threatens to Cut US Military Ties Over Tariffs
Thailand Threatens to Cut US Military Ties Over Tariffs
BANGKOK, 12 August 2026 — Thailand is considering using its longstanding military relationship with the United States as leverage in renewed trade negotiations, including a possible reduction in joint military activities, if Washington maintains high tariffs on Thai exports, according to an unnamed Thai official cited by The Star.
The Thai government is reportedly preparing to raise the issue during trade talks later this month, with the possibility of scaling back military cooperation, including participation in the annual Cobra Gold exercises, if US tariffs cause significant economic damage.
Thailand recorded a trade surplus of about $51.4 billion with the United States last year, according to the report, while Bangkok is seeking lower US tariffs on its exports.
Thailand is currently seeking to reduce tariffs imposed by Washington, which the supplied report says include a 12.5% tariff on most Thai exports under Section 301. Thai officials are reportedly seeking to keep the tariff at 19% or lower as part of broader negotiations.
A Thai Defence Ministry spokesman, Surasant Kongsiri, said he could not confirm or verify the reported proposal to link military cooperation with the tariff dispute.
However, Thai Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun argued that Thailand should receive preferential trade treatment because of its status as a close US strategic ally. She said security and defence relations were being raised as part of Thailand’s efforts to negotiate more favourable trade terms.
The US and Thailand have maintained one of Washington’s oldest security alliances in Asia. Their defence relationship includes Cobra Gold, a major annual multinational military exercise that brings together thousands of troops from the United States, Thailand and other participating countries.
The exercise is viewed as an important component of US military engagement in mainland Southeast Asia and has continued despite periods of political tension between Washington and Bangkok.
The alliance was strained following Thailand’s 2014 military coup, when the United States reduced some military exercises and suspended parts of its military engagement before defence ties were gradually rebuilt.
Thailand’s reported threat to reconsider military cooperation would therefore add a new dimension to the country’s negotiations with Washington, linking trade pressure with a longstanding security partnership.
The report did not indicate that Thailand had made a formal decision to suspend or reduce Cobra Gold or other joint military activities.
