Trump Compels the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with Cambodia, indicating that trade talks could be suspended as efforts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
Earlier this week, Thai officials announced it was putting on hold the truce agreement, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that allegedly wounded a Thai military personnel on patrol, who lost a foot in the blast.
Since then, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting.
US Trade Pressure
Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was received on Friday night.
He quoted the letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could resume once the Thai government renewed its pledge to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” said a different official representative.
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 suggested that he had employed tariff warnings 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,” continuing, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”
Ceasefire Agreement Background
Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has touted it as one of several deals around the world he says should win him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a decade between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Historic Frontier Conflict
Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the frontier are claimed by both sides.
Reuters contributed to this report.