The US President Compels Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Truce with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, warning that trade negotiations could be suspended as efforts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
In recent days, Thailand declared it was suspending the truce agreement, accusing Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that allegedly injured a Thai soldier on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.
Since then, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.
American Economic Leverage
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a official communication from the U.S. trade office announcing the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on Friday night.
The spokesperson referenced the document as stating that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could resume once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said a different official representative.
President’s Economic Warning
Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on Friday, the US leader suggested that he had employed tariff warnings 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.”
Truce Deal Origins
The President witnessed the finalization of a ceasefire agreement, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the globe he says should earn him the prestigious peace award.
The most severe clashes in a decade between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced.
Longstanding Border Dispute
The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are claimed by both sides.
International news agency contributed to this report.
