The US President Pressures the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Truce with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, warning that trade talks could be halted as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from collapsing.
Border Tensions Escalate
In recent days, Thai officials declared it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, including one that reportedly wounded a Thai soldier on duty, who lost a foot in the blast.
Following this, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting.
American Economic Leverage
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a official communication from the U.S. trade office declaring the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on the previous evening.
The spokesperson referenced the letter as stating that trade negotiations – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could resume once Thailand renewed its pledge to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said a different official representative.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, Trump implied that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in calls with the ASEAN nation heads.
He stated, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” continuing, “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 last autumn, and has promoted 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 Thai and Cambodian troops broke out 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 originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the frontier are claimed by both sides.
Reuters contributed to this report.
