Trump Urges the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, stating that trade negotiations could be paused as attempts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing.
Rising Border Hostilities
In recent days, Thailand declared it was suspending the truce agreement, accusing Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that reportedly wounded a Thai soldier on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast.
Following this, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.
US Trade Pressure
Over the weekend, 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 received on Friday night.
He quoted the letter as stating that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could resume once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” said another government spokesperson.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, Trump suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” 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.”
Ceasefire Agreement Background
Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he claims should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks causing numerous fatalities and 300,000 displaced.
Historic Frontier Conflict
Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the frontier are claimed by both sides.
International news agency contributed to this report.
