The US President Urges the Thai government to Recommit to Cambodia Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, indicating that trade talks could be suspended as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from falling apart.
Border Tensions Escalate
In recent days, Thai officials declared it was suspending the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who lost a foot in the blast.
Following this, one person has been killed and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting.
American Economic Leverage
Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a letter from the U.S. trade office announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on Friday night.
He quoted the document as stating that trade negotiations – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could restart once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the mutual truce agreement.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” stated another government spokesperson.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Speaking to the press 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 south-east Asian leaders.
He stated, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” continuing, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”
Ceasefire Agreement Background
Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has touted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he claims should earn him the prestigious peace award.
The most severe clashes in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced.
Historic Frontier Conflict
Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to conflicts regarding colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the frontier are claimed by both sides.
Reuters contributed to this report.
