Trump Urges the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, warning that trade negotiations could be suspended as efforts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing.
Border Tensions Escalate
In recent days, Thai officials announced it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the shared border, among them an incident that reportedly injured a Thai soldier on duty, who lost a foot in the explosion.
Since then, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting.
US Trade Pressure
On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson 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 focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could resume once Thailand renewed its pledge to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” stated another government spokesperson.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, Trump suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in calls with the south-east Asian leaders.
The US president said, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” continuing, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”
Truce Deal Origins
Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this October, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he says should win him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Longstanding Border Dispute
Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the frontier are disputed by each nation.
International news agency contributed to this report.
