Trump Compels the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, stating that trade talks could be paused as attempts are made to stop a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing.
Rising Border Hostilities
In recent days, Thai officials announced it was suspending the truce agreement, accusing Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that reportedly injured a Thai soldier on duty, who lost a foot in the explosion.
Following this, one person has been killed and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting.
US Trade Pressure
Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a official communication from the U.S. trade office announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was received on the previous evening.
He quoted the document as stating that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could restart once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” said a different official representative.
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 employed tariff warnings in discussions 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 are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”
Truce Deal Origins
Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the world he says should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in July, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced.
Longstanding Border Dispute
Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that originates from disagreements over colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are disputed by each nation.
International news agency contributed to this report.
