The US President Compels Thailand to Recommit to Cambodian Truce with Tariff Warnings
The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, warning that trade talks could be paused as attempts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
In recent days, Thailand declared it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast.
Since then, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting.
American Economic Leverage
On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists 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 saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could restart once Thailand 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 on Air Force One as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, the US leader suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in discussions with the ASEAN nation heads.
The US president said, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” adding, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”
Truce Deal Origins
Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he says should win him the prestigious peace award.
The most severe clashes in a ten years 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.
Historic Frontier Conflict
Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that originates from disagreements over colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are claimed by both sides.
Reuters contributed to this report.
