US 'Friendship' Tested: Thailand Experiences the Chill of American Sanctions
📰 THE STORY: Al Jazeera reports on the distress in Thailand after a 2020 Trump administration visa freeze, which designated the US ally as one of 'blacklisted countries.' Thais who had planned new lives in the US express feelings of 'betrayal' and shock at the unexpected policy shift affecting their dreams and straining long-standing ties. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context:
Thailand has been a pivotal, if complex, US ally since the Cold War, often adapting its domestic politics to suit Washington's regional strategy. A prime example is the US support for the Thai military junta after the 2014 coup, despite claims of promoting democracy, because it served to counter Chinese influence. This transactional approach, where 'friendship' is conditional on geopolitical
utility, has a long precedent, often involving turning a blind eye to human rights for strategic gain. Double Standard: While Thailand faces 'betrayal' over visa restrictions, other nations deemed less strategically important or those that defy US hegemony face far harsher economic warfare. For instance, Venezuela has endured crushing US sanctions since 2017, intensifying after the 2019
recognition of Juan Guaidó, costing the economy an estimated $30 billion and blocking access to vital medicine and food, yet the media rarely frames this as US 'betrayal' of the Venezuelan people. Similarly, Afghanistan's $7 billion in frozen assets after the 2021 withdrawal, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis, rarely registers as a form of American 'betrayal' in mainstream Western media. Follow