PUBLISHED: 22 Apr 2025 at 05 :14
NEWSPAPER SECTION: News
Whether Thailand buys more weaponry from the United States depends on the results of future trade deals with US officers, according to Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.
A Thai group led by Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira is scheduled to discuss with US authorities on Wednesday over the 36 % mutual tariffs on Thai imports, although most jobs have been paused until July.
Mr Phumtham dismissed as doubtful that the US price measures may affect the atmosphere agency’s jet fighter procurement plan, after some suggested that Thailand may consider buying military technologies and weaponry from Washington.
Some have speculated that Thailand might change from Swedish-made Gripen to US-made F-16 fighter jet.
According to Mr Phumtham, one of the problems of buying F-16 jet is to get loans from the US to fund the program, which would be a somewhat innovative thing to do.
He said the state also has economic issues to consider and noted that the air agency’s planned sourcing of the Gripen jet has yet to be approved by the government.
Recently, former defence secretary Sutin Klungsang said the US proposed a 12-year 4. 5 % interest rate for the government to collect up to 16 warrior planes.
Mr Phumtham even declined to say when asked if other types of flights, such as transport plane, would be on the table, as the C-130 plane is ageing. He added that the military’s plan to secure Stryker armoured cars from the US is not yet finalised.