The US President Compels the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, stating that trade negotiations could be suspended as efforts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from collapsing.
Border Tensions Escalate
Earlier this week, Thai officials 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 injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast.
Following this, one person has been killed and several others wounded by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.
American Economic Leverage
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on the previous evening.
He quoted the document as stating that discussions on trade – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could resume once Thailand renewed its pledge to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said another government spokesperson.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on Friday, the US leader implied that he had employed tariff warnings in discussions with the ASEAN nation heads.
The US president said, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” continuing, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”
Truce Deal Origins
Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, held in Malaysia this October, and has touted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he claims should win him the prestigious peace award.
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 300,000 displaced.
Longstanding Border Dispute
Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the border are claimed by both sides.
Reuters contributed to this report.
