Trump Pressures Thailand to Recommit to Cambodian Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, indicating that trade talks could be halted as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from collapsing.
Border Tensions Escalate
Earlier this week, Thailand declared it was suspending the truce agreement, alleging Cambodian forces 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.
Following this, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.
US Trade Pressure
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on the previous evening.
The spokesperson referenced the document as stating that discussions on trade – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could resume once the Thai government renewed its pledge to implementing the mutual truce agreement.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” stated a different official representative.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Speaking to the press on Air Force One as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, Trump suggested that he had employed tariff warnings 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,” adding, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”
Truce Deal Origins
The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, held in Malaysia this October, and has touted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he says should win him the Nobel Peace prize.
The worst fighting 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.
Longstanding Border Dispute
The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to conflicts regarding colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the frontier are claimed by both sides.
Reuters provided input for this coverage.