Despite the leaders’ personal chemistry, the seafood row shows the ‘frictions’ embedded within the countries’ relationship, analysts say
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenAidan JonesandUshar DanielePublished: 8:39pm, 10 Jul 2026Updated: 8:50pm, 10 Jul 2026After a rendition of My Way and a saxophone accompaniment that felt closer to crooning uncles at a wedding party than high-stakes diplomacy, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his Thai counterpart Anutin Charnvirakul announced the serious business of squashing a damaging trade row and bringing greater security to the porous border between the nations.The pair, long-standing friends, also share a love for public spectacle, with Anutin playing the classic song popularised by Frank Sinatra on the saxophone while Anwar gripped the microphone and reached for the chorus high notes at a lunch on Thursday.
“Is there a problem? Yeah. We’re going to solve it … When? Next week,” he said as an example of the neighbours’ ability to resolve issues quickly.
Thai, Malaysian leaders perform Sinatra classic on sidelines of regional security talksBut behind the bonhomie, a weeks-long row over seafood and fish imports between the nations has vexed relations and severely damaged the Thai shrimp industry.
