Trump Urges the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with Cambodia, indicating that trade negotiations could be halted as attempts are made to stop a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing.
Border Tensions Escalate
Earlier this week, Thailand announced it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that reportedly injured a Thai soldier on duty, who lost a foot in the explosion.
Following this, 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 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 announcing the pause in trade negotiations was received 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 reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” stated another government spokesperson.
President’s Economic Warning
Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on Friday, 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,” adding, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”
Ceasefire Agreement Background
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 claims should win him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a ten years between military forces of both nations broke out in July, 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 longstanding border dispute that dates back to conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the border are claimed by both sides.
International news agency contributed to this report.
