The US President Urges Thailand to Recommit to Cambodia Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, indicating that trade negotiations could be paused as attempts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated ceasefire arrangement from collapsing.
Border Tensions Escalate
In recent days, Thai officials announced it was putting on hold the truce agreement, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the mutual frontier, including one that allegedly wounded a Thai military personnel on patrol, who lost a foot in the explosion.
Since then, one person has been killed and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting.
American Economic Leverage
Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a letter from the U.S. trade office declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on Friday night.
The spokesperson referenced the letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could restart once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” stated another government spokesperson.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on Friday, Trump suggested that he had employed tariff warnings 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’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”
Truce Deal Origins
The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has touted it as one of several deals around the globe he claims should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a ten years between military forces of both nations erupted in July, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced.
Historic Frontier Conflict
The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the frontier are claimed by both sides.
International news agency contributed to this report.
