Trump Pressures the Thai government to Recommit to Cambodia Truce with Tariff Warnings
Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, indicating that trade talks could be paused as efforts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing.
Rising Border Hostilities
In recent days, Thailand announced it was suspending the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, among them an incident that allegedly injured a Thai soldier on patrol, who lost a foot in the blast.
Since then, 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.
US Trade Pressure
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a letter from the U.S. trade office announcing the pause in trade negotiations was received on the previous evening.
He quoted the document as saying that discussions on trade – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could resume once Thailand renewed its pledge to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said another government spokesperson.
President’s Economic Warning
Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, the US leader suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in discussions with the ASEAN nation heads.
He stated, “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
Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the world he claims should earn him the prestigious peace award.
The worst fighting in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Longstanding Border Dispute
Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to disagreements over maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the border are claimed by both sides.
Reuters contributed to this report.
