Trump Urges Thailand to Recommit to Cambodian Ceasefire with Tariff Warnings
The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, stating that trade negotiations could be paused as efforts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.
Border Tensions Escalate
In recent days, Thailand declared it was putting on hold the truce agreement, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the mutual frontier, including one that reportedly wounded a Thai soldier on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.
Since then, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a new round of retaliatory clashes.
American Economic Leverage
Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on the previous evening.
He quoted the letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could resume once the Thai government renewed its pledge to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” said another government spokesperson.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, the US leader implied that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in calls with the south-east Asian leaders.
The US president said, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” continuing, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”
Truce Deal Origins
Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the globe he claims should win him the Nobel Peace prize.
The worst fighting in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in July, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced.
Longstanding Border Dispute
Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to disagreements over maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the frontier are disputed by each nation.
Reuters contributed to this report.
