Trump Compels the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, indicating that trade negotiations could be halted as attempts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
In recent days, Thailand declared it was suspending the truce agreement, accusing Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that reportedly wounded a Thai military personnel on duty, who lost a foot in the explosion.
Since then, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting.
American Economic Leverage
On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a letter 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 19 percent American duty – could restart once Thailand renewed its pledge to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” stated another government spokesperson.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, the US leader suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in calls with the south-east Asian leaders.
He stated, “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
The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he says should win him the prestigious peace award.
The worst fighting in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Longstanding Border Dispute
The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that originates from disagreements over colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the frontier are claimed by both sides.
Reuters contributed to this report.
