The US President Pressures Thailand to Recommit to Cambodia Ceasefire with Tariff Warnings
The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to recommit to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, indicating that trade negotiations could be halted as attempts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
In recent days, Thai officials announced it was suspending the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that allegedly wounded a Thai soldier on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.
Since then, one person has been killed and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a new round of retaliatory clashes.
American Economic Leverage
On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a official communication from the U.S. trade office announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on the previous evening.
The spokesperson referenced the letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could restart once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the mutual truce agreement.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said another government spokesperson.
President’s Economic Warning
Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, the US leader implied that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in discussions with the south-east Asian leaders.
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 peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has touted it as one of several deals around the world he claims should win him the Nobel Peace prize.
The worst fighting in a decade between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and 300,000 displaced.
Historic Frontier Conflict
The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to disagreements over colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the frontier are disputed by each nation.
Reuters contributed to this report.
