The US President Pressures the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Ceasefire with Tariff Warnings
The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, stating that trade negotiations could be suspended as efforts are made to stop a Trump-mediated peace agreement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
In recent days, Thailand announced it was putting on hold the truce agreement, alleging Cambodia of planting new explosives along the shared border, including one that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on patrol, who lost a foot in the explosion.
Following this, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting.
American Economic Leverage
On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the pause in trade negotiations was received on the previous evening.
He quoted the document as stating that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could restart once the Thai government renewed its pledge to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said a different official representative.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, Trump implied that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in calls with the ASEAN nation heads.
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.”
Ceasefire Agreement Background
The President witnessed the finalization of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this last autumn, and has touted it as one of several deals around the world he says should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.
The worst fighting in a decade between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Historic Frontier Conflict
The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to disagreements over colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are claimed by both sides.
International news agency contributed to this report.
