The US President Compels Thailand to Recommit to Cambodia Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
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 Trump-mediated ceasefire arrangement from collapsing.
Border Tensions Escalate
Earlier this week, Thai officials announced it was suspending the truce agreement, accusing Cambodia of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, including one that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.
Following this, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a new round of retaliatory clashes.
American Economic Leverage
Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the pause in trade negotiations was received on the previous evening.
The spokesperson referenced the document as stating that trade negotiations – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could restart once the Thai government renewed its pledge to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said another government spokesperson.
President’s Economic Warning
Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, Trump implied that he had employed tariff warnings in calls with the ASEAN nation heads.
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.”
Truce Deal Origins
The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he says should win him the prestigious peace award.
The worst fighting in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Longstanding Border Dispute
The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to disagreements over colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the frontier are disputed by each nation.
International news agency contributed to this report.
