The US President Pressures the Thai government to Recommit to Cambodian Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, warning that trade talks could be suspended as attempts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
Earlier this week, Thailand announced it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that reportedly injured a Thai soldier on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.
Since then, one person has been killed and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the border between the two nations, 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 U.S. trade office declaring 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 restart once the Thai government renewed its pledge 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
Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on Friday, 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’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”
Ceasefire Agreement Background
The President witnessed the finalization of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this October, and has touted it as one of several deals around the globe he says should earn him the prestigious peace award.
The most severe clashes in a decade between Thai and Cambodian troops 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 historic territorial disagreement that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the border are claimed by both sides.
Reuters provided input for this coverage.
