The government has no plans to use military and security cooperation with the United States as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations, a spokeswoman says.
Rachada Dhnadirek said reports by some foreign media outlets that Thailand was preparing to link security and military cooperation to trade talks with Washington were untrue and did not reflect government policy. She said negotiations with the US were based on Thailand's economic interests, fairness and balanced trade, with proposals assessed for their impact on farmers, businesses, manufacturers and the public.
Thailand's longstanding security and military cooperation with the US would continue under existing plans and agreements. She said the annual Cobra Gold exercise was not linked to the outcome of trade negotiations, because the cooperation had merit and was pursued for its own sake. The clarification came after foreign media reports suggested Thailand could consider reducing military cooperation, including Cobra Gold, if Washington imposed high tariffs on Thai exports.
Thailand is seeking better terms in trade talks after the US proposed a 12.5% tariff on most Thai exports. Thailand recorded a US$51.4 billion (about 1.699 trillion baht) trade surplus with the US in 2025. Cobra Gold was cited in the foreign media reports because the exercise is a major pillar of longstanding Thai-US security cooperation and a visible expression of the two countries' treaty alliance. The US and Thailand jointly host the exercise, which is among the largest multinational military exercises in Southeast Asia.
Cobra Gold 27, the 46th edition of the exercise, will be held under a six-year training plan covering 2025-2030, with 31 countries participating. The Thai-US alliance is one of Washington's oldest in Asia and remains strategically important as China expands its influence in the region. In 2025, more than 8,000 personnel from 30 countries took part in Cobra Gold.
