Thailand is planning to use its decades-long military partnership with the US—including the Cobra Gold exercises—as leverage in trade negotiations to combat Trump's new tariff regime. With a $51.4 billion trade surplus facing 12.5% tariffs under Section 301, Bangkok is threatening to scale back defense cooperation unless tariff rates are capped at 19%. The Commerce Minister is leading cross-sector negotiations while the Defense Ministry prepares to table this quid pro quo in talks resuming late August. This marks an unusual escalation of Thailand's use of security ties in commercial disputes.