Trump Pressures Thailand to Recommit to Cambodia Truce with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, indicating that trade talks could be halted as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.
Border Tensions Escalate
Earlier this week, Thai officials declared it was suspending the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodia of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, including one that reportedly injured a Thai soldier on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast.
Following this, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by gunfire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a new round of retaliatory clashes.
American Economic Leverage
Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a official communication from the U.S. trade office declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was received on the previous evening.
He quoted the letter as stating that trade negotiations – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could restart once the Thai government renewed its pledge to implementing the mutual truce agreement.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” stated a different official representative.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on Friday, Trump implied that he had employed tariff warnings in discussions with the ASEAN nation heads.
The US president said, “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 promoted it as one of several deals around the globe he claims should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.
The worst fighting in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and 300,000 displaced.
Historic Frontier Conflict
The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the border are disputed by each nation.
Reuters contributed to this report.
