Protesters in Thailand rallied against a rare earth minerals agreement with US President Donald Trump, calling for the deal between the United States and Thailand to be revoked.

Demonstrators gathered in front of the US Embassy in Bangkok on October 30, urging politicians to withdraw from the recently signed agreement.

Footage shows protesters holding placards reading 'Stop rare earth MoU,' 'A good environment is a human right,' and 'Thailand is not for sale'.

The group expressed concern that the MoU on Cooperation to Diversify Global Critical Minerals Supply Chains and Promote Investments could tilt Thailand's foreign policy towards the United States and away from its traditionally balanced stance between the US and China.

Activists also warned of potential ecological damage from rare earth mining in the region.

Lertsak Khamkongsak, chairman of the Thai NGO Coordinating Committee on Development and the Network of People Who Own Mineral Resources, led the protest.

Lertsak said: 'The agreement primarily serves US strategic interests by positioning Thailand as a transit point for rare minerals from neighbouring countries where China dominates the sector, before they are shipped to the US.

'The MoU could enable the US to oversee and facilitate both legal and illegal imports of rare earth and critical minerals from Myanmar and Laos via Thailand, while ignoring the environmental impacts on nearby communities and ecosystems.

'The United States should not view Thailand as a battleground in its rivalry with China over critical and rare earth resources.

'Thailand's own reserves are limited and lack sufficient concentration for commercial extraction, and the country currently cannot refine lithium to the required purity levels.'

He suggested that, instead of the MoU, both countries should agree on measures addressing transboundary pollution caused by mining operations in neighbouring countries, which are severely affecting the Kok River on the Thai side.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on rare earth minerals was signed during the Asian Summit in Malaysia on October 26.

During a Cabinet meeting on October 28, the government acknowledged the signing of the MoU, which aims to promote trade, investment, and technological cooperation in the rare earth sector.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said that the agreement is not legally binding and does not grant exclusive rights to either party, serving only as a mutual understanding to enhance cooperation in supply chain development and investment.

The MoU highlights five areas of collaboration: knowledge exchange, joint scientific research, regulatory improvements, market transparency, and fair trade - all aimed at boosting competitiveness and innovation in the rare earth sector.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the MoU serves as a preparatory framework should commercially viable deposits be found in Thailand.

He said: 'The agreement is not exclusive or concession-based. It simply lays the groundwork for future collaboration and will not affect Thailand's relationship with China. It demonstrates goodwill and could strengthen US–Thailand cooperation on trade and tariffs.'

Meanwhile, the US Embassy confirmed that the MoU is not intended to be legally binding under either international or domestic law.