The US President Urges the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Truce with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, warning that trade negotiations could be suspended as efforts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
In recent days, Thai officials announced it was putting on hold the truce agreement, alleging Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, among them an incident that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who lost a foot in the explosion.
Following this, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, raising concerns of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting.
US Trade Pressure
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a official communication from the U.S. trade office declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was received on the previous evening.
He quoted the document as saying that trade negotiations – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could restart once Thailand renewed its pledge to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said another government spokesperson.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, the US leader suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in calls with the south-east Asian leaders.
He stated, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” continuing, “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 last autumn, and has touted it as one of several deals around the globe he claims should win him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Longstanding Border Dispute
The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to disagreements over colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the border are disputed by each nation.
Reuters provided input for this coverage.
