Tariffs are not the only issue the U.S. needs to discuss with Thailand | Opinion (2025)

As the U.S. meets with a Thai delegation for tariff negotiations on April 21, one important issue cannot be overlooked. It’s an issue that has nothing to do with tariffs but has everything to do with U.S.-Thai relations. It is the unlawful detainment in Thailand of an American citizen and Oklahoman, my brother, Paul Chambers. If we are going to talk tariffs, we can’t even start that discussion until this issue is resolved. It it is a fairly simple discussion: allow my brother, Paul Chambers, to come home to Oklahoma or face the highest tariffs possible.If you have not heard Paul Chambers’ name before, let me quickly introduce you to him and to his plight. Paul is, as we say in Oklahoma, “Sooner born and Sooner bred.” A Ph.D. and former University of Oklahoma professor who is recognized internationally as an expert on Southeast Asia politics and a world authority on the Thai military. Paul went to Thailand in 1993 as a volunteer in the Peace Corps; ultimately, he moved to Thailand and married a fellow academic who works at the same university. But Paul has remained grounded in his Sooner roots and loves America. In fact, he has sought a university that would have need for his exceptional expertise.

Paul is widely respected in Thai political and military circles. His insights are routinely counted on both within the country and amongst U.S. policymakers. Unfortunately, the Thai military recently decided that Paul’s American viewpoints were becoming inconvenient for them. His American constitutional based research and publications were becoming too widely known. He was falsely charged of lèse-majesté (criticizing the monarchy). While this concept flies in the face of our American approach to criticism, it is illegal in Thailand to criticize members of the royal family ― violation can carry a 15-year imprisonment. Paul knows the rules, he has spent three decades in Thailand, he respects Thai culture and would never disrespect the royal family.

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Back in October 2024, Paul was an announced speaker at a conference put on by Singapore’s Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. It appears that someone in the Thai military read a description of his topic and used that as a predicate to criminally charge Paul in early April 2025. However, Paul DID NOT WRITE the summary or have any input into what was written. The Singaporean entity that hosted the event wrote it.Regardless, this was used to prompt this respected academic to be charged, temporarily detained in a deplorable prison, and now detained in Thailand with an ankle monitor, no passport and no work visa, forbidden to leave the country. All Paul wants is to leave Thailand ― his second home for three decades ― and relocate back to Oklahoma. You would think this whole saga could be fake news itself, but it’s not. And now, the Thai government is sending a delegation to the U.S. to negotiate better trade terms. While they are sitting at the negotiating table, an American citizen is facing false charges and the potential loss of his freedom from the same Thai government.President Trump has made it clear that he wants Americans wrongfully detained overseas to come home to the U.S. The Thai government should not test our president on tariffs, but they really should not test him on holding an American hostage. For our America First colleagues getting ready to negotiate tariffs with the Thai government, the first words that need to be spoken by the Thai representatives should be, “Dr. Chambers is on his way home now.”

Kit Chambers is an Oklahoman and the brother of Paul Chambers.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Trade talks with Thailand should include my brother's release | Opinion