The US President Pressures Thailand to Recommit to Cambodian Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, warning that trade talks could be halted as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from collapsing.
Border Tensions Escalate
In recent days, Thailand announced it was putting on hold the truce agreement, accusing Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that allegedly wounded a Thai military personnel on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.
Since then, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting.
American Economic Leverage
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on Friday night.
He quoted the document as stating that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could restart once Thailand renewed its pledge to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said another government spokesperson.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, Trump suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in calls with the south-east Asian leaders.
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 peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has touted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he claims should win him the Nobel Peace prize.
The worst fighting in a decade between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and 300,000 displaced.
Longstanding Border Dispute
Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are disputed by each nation.
Reuters contributed to this report.