The US President Urges Thailand to Recommit to Cambodia Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, stating that trade talks could be paused as attempts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from collapsing.
Rising Border Hostilities
In recent days, Thailand announced it was suspending the truce agreement, accusing Cambodia of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that reportedly injured a Thai soldier on patrol, who lost a foot in the explosion.
Since then, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a new round of retaliatory clashes.
US Trade Pressure
Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a letter from the U.S. trade office declaring the pause in trade negotiations was received on Friday night.
He quoted the letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could restart once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment 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 on Air Force One 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 discussions with the south-east Asian leaders.
He stated, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” adding, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”
Truce Deal Origins
The President witnessed the finalization 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 earn him the prestigious peace award.
The most severe clashes in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in mid-summer, 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 originates from disagreements over colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the border are disputed by each nation.
International news agency provided input for this coverage.