The US President Compels the Thai government to Recommit to Cambodian Truce with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, stating that trade negotiations could be halted as efforts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing.
Border Tensions Escalate
Earlier this week, Thailand announced it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, among them an incident that reportedly wounded a Thai soldier on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast.
Following this, one person has been killed and several others wounded by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting.
American Economic Leverage
Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists 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 letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could restart 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
Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane 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,” continuing, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”
Truce Deal Origins
The President witnessed the finalization of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this October, and has touted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he claims should win him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in July, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced.
Historic Frontier Conflict
Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the border are disputed by each nation.
International news agency provided input for this coverage.
