The US President Compels the Thai government to Recommit to Cambodia Truce with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, warning that trade talks could be halted as attempts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
Earlier this week, Thailand declared it was putting on hold the truce agreement, alleging Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, among them an incident that reportedly wounded a Thai soldier on patrol, who lost a foot in the explosion.
Following this, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a new round of retaliatory clashes.
American Economic Leverage
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was received on the previous evening.
He quoted the document as stating that discussions on trade – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could restart once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said another government spokesperson.
President’s Economic Warning
Speaking to the press on Air Force One as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, the US leader implied that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in discussions with the ASEAN nation heads.
He stated, “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 peace deal, held in Malaysia this October, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he claims should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Historic Frontier Conflict
The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that originates from conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the frontier are disputed by each nation.
Reuters provided input for this coverage.
