Trump Compels Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Ceasefire with Tariff Warnings
The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, indicating that trade negotiations could be paused as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from collapsing.
Border Tensions Escalate
In recent days, Thailand declared it was suspending the truce agreement, alleging Cambodia of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, including one that allegedly wounded a Thai soldier on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast.
Since then, one person has been killed and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting.
US Trade Pressure
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a letter from the U.S. trade office announcing the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on the previous evening.
He quoted the document as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could resume once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” said a different official representative.
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 implied that he had employed tariff warnings in discussions with the ASEAN nation heads.
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
Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has touted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he claims should win him the prestigious peace award.
The worst fighting in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced.
Longstanding Border Dispute
The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to disagreements over maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the frontier are disputed by each nation.
International news agency contributed to this report.
