BANGKOK, May 9 — A Thai court has denied former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s request to travel to Qatar, where he said he planned to meet US President Donald Trump for informal trade talks.
BANGKOK, May 9 — A Thai court has denied former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s request to travel to Qatar, where he said he planned to meet US President Donald Trump for informal trade talks.
Thaksin, currently facing charges under Thailand’s strict royal defamation laws, had sought approval to leave the country as part of his bail conditions. However, the Criminal Court ruled that the request lacked “sufficient justification,” noting that the invitation from Lusail Palace—where Trump is expected to attend a private dinner—was personal and unrelated to any official diplomatic duty.
Thaksin argued the meeting could help address a 36 per cent US tariff on Thai exports, but the court cited the absence of a detailed itinerary and the potential disruption to ongoing legal proceedings.
Trade talks between Thailand and the US have been delayed indefinitely, leading to speculation over political interference.
Despite promising to stay out of politics after his return from exile in August 2023, Thaksin has reportedly offered informal assistance in foreign affairs. His daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, became prime minister in 2024, a move critics claim was orchestrated by Thaksin, who still holds sway behind the scenes.
He is due in court this July over a 2015 royal defamation case and remains under investigation for alleged special treatment upon his return. — AFP
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