Trump's Thailand pick to tell Bangkok border conflicts don't help alliance
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's nominee to be U.S. ambassador to Thailand said on Tuesday he would tell Bangkok if confirmed in the post that conflicts like Thailand's recent border skirmish with Cambodia do nothing to help the Thai people or the country's alliance with Washington.
Sean O'Neill, a career foreign service officer who has served twice before as a diplomat in Thailand, made the comment at his Senate confirmation hearing when asked about five days of clashes between Thailand and Cambodia that killed at least 43 people and displaced over 300,000.
Thai and Cambodian leaders met in Malaysia on Monday and agreed to a ceasefire to halt their deadliest conflict in more than a decade. That agreement came after Trump warned the Thai and Cambodian leaders at the weekend that trade negotiations with the U.S. would not progress if fighting continued.
Asked what he would do to ensure that the ceasefire became a long-term peace agreement, O'Neill said:
"I think the first thing I would do is to point out to Thailand, which is one of our only treaty allies in Asia, that wars like this, conflicts like this, do nothing to help their people.
"They do nothing to strengthen our alliance, they do nothing to address the challenges that both of our countries face. They are just a needless waste of life and treasure."
O'Neill also said Thailand should not lend legitimacy to the military government in its neighbor Myanmar.
He said the State Department's position was not to encourage Myanmar to hold "sham" elections the military was looking to hold in the autumn.
"If confirmed, I would encourage Thailand not to recognize an election that does not include the participation of over 50% of the country, while most of the opposition leaders are in prison," he said. REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury information largely already public, DOJ says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell stands at the podium to address Judge Alison Nathan during her sentencing in a courtroom sketch in New York City, U.S. June 28, 2022. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg/File Photo NEW YORK - Much of the information presented to the grand jury that indicted Ghislaine Maxwell for helping the late financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls has already been made public, the Justice Department said in a court filing on Tuesday. President Donald Trump last month instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of the Epstein and Maxwell grand jury material, as he sought to quell discontent from his base of conservative supporters and congressional Democrats over his administration's handling of documents from the cases. Tuesday's filing underscored how it is unclear whether the public will learn anything new or noteworthy from the potential release of such material. The Justice Department said much of the testimony from law enforcement officers at Maxwell's grand jury proceedings in 2020 was corroborated by the victims and witnesses who testified publicly at her trial the following year. "Much of the information provided during the course of the grand jury testimony - with the exception of the identities of certain victims and witnesses - was made publicly available at trial or has otherwise been publicly reported through the public statements of victims and witnesses," the Justice Department wrote in the filing. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted of sex trafficking. Epstein died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. He had pleaded not guilty. Last month, Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Maxwell to see if she had any information about other people who may have committed crimes. Neither party has provided a detailed account of what they discussed. Maxwell last week was moved from a prison in Florida to a lower-security facility in Texas. Grand juries meet in secret to guard against interference in criminal investigations, and records of their proceedings cannot be disclosed without a judge's permission. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore More train rides taken in first half-year, but overall public transport use stays below 2019 levels Singapore BlueSG needs time to develop software, refresh fleet, say ex-insiders after winding-down news Asia Cambodia-Thailand border clash a setback for Asean: Vivian Balakrishnan Singapore 'She had a whole life ahead of her': Boyfriend mourns Yishun fatal crash victim Singapore Doctor hounded ex-girlfriend, threatened to share her intimate photos, abducted her off street Asia Trump's transactional foreign policy fuels 'US scepticism' in Taiwan Business Women on corporate boards give firms a competitive advantage, says Australian Governor-General Singapore CEO of sports car distributor accused of offences including multiple counts of false trading The Justice Department has cited what it calls continuing public interest in the cases in asking Manhattan-based judges Richard Berman and Paul Engelmayer to authorize the disclosure of the grand jury transcripts. Lawyers for Epstein, Maxwell and their alleged victims are due to share their views on the potential disclosures with the judges by Tuesday. Separately on Tuesday, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena to the Justice Department for records related to Epstein. Epstein was known for socializing with wealthy and powerful individuals, and his death in jail has fueled conspiracy theories that other prominent people may have been involved in his crimes and that he was murdered. Trump, a Republican, had promised to make public Epstein-related files if reelected and accused Democrats of covering up the truth. But in July, the Justice Department said a previously touted Epstein client list did not exist, angering Trump's supporters. Democrats are also pushing for the release of Epstein files, saying Trump should be held accountable for breaking his promise to release them. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Zelensky spoke to Trump on sanctions against Russia and drones ahead of peace deal deadline
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox US President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House in Washington, on Feb 28, 2025. KYIV - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug 5 that he had had a 'productive' conversation with his US counterpart Donald Trump that covered ending the war, sanctions on Russia and the finalisation of a US-Ukraine drone deal. Mr Trump, who has signalled frustration with Vladimir Putin in recent weeks, has given the Russian president until Aug 8 to make peace in Ukraine or face tougher sanctions. "President Trump is fully informed about Russian strikes on Kyiv and other cities and communities," Mr Zelensky wrote on X, referring to intensifying drone and missile attacks. He added that Ukraine was also ready to conclude a deal with the US on the production of Ukrainian drones that would amount to 'one of the strongest agreements'. Ukraine is increasingly seeking financing and investment from its foreign partners to bolster its burgeoning domestic arms industry. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Zelenskiy spoke with Trump ahead of peace deal deadline
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 28, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo KYIV - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that he had had a "productive" conversation with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump that covered ending the war, sanctions on Russia and the finalisation of a U.S.-Ukraine drone deal. Trump, who has signalled frustration with Vladimir Putin in recent weeks, has given the Russian president until August 8 to make peace in Ukraine or face tougher sanctions. "President Trump is fully informed about Russian strikes on Kyiv and other cities and communities," Zelenskiy wrote on X, referring to intensifying drone and missile attacks. He added that Ukraine was also ready to conclude a deal with the U.S. on the production of Ukrainian drones that would amount to "one of the strongest agreements". Ukraine is increasingly seeking financing and investment from its foreign partners to bolster its burgeoning domestic arms industry. REUTERS
