The US President Urges Thailand to Recommit to Cambodia Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, stating that trade negotiations could be suspended as attempts are made to stop a Trump-mediated 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, among them an incident that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on patrol, who lost a foot in the explosion.
Following this, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.
US Trade Pressure
On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a letter from the U.S. trade office declaring the pause in trade negotiations was received on the previous evening.
He quoted the document as saying that discussions on trade – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could restart once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said a different official representative.
President’s Economic Warning
Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, the US leader implied that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in calls with the south-east Asian leaders.
The US president said, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” adding, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”
Truce Deal Origins
Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this October, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he says should win him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Longstanding Border Dispute
The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that originates from conflicts regarding colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the frontier are claimed by both sides.
International news agency contributed to this report.
