The US President Urges the Thai government to Recommit to Cambodian Ceasefire with Trade Penalties
Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, warning that trade negotiations could be halted as attempts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.
Border Tensions Escalate
In recent days, Thailand declared it was suspending the truce agreement, alleging Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that reportedly wounded a Thai military personnel on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast.
Since then, 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 retaliatory clashes.
American Economic Leverage
Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the pause in trade negotiations was received on the previous evening.
He quoted the document as stating that discussions on trade – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could restart once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said another government spokesperson.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, Trump suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in calls with the south-east Asian leaders.
The US president said, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” continuing, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”
Ceasefire Agreement Background
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 win 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 causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Longstanding Border Dispute
The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the frontier are disputed by each nation.
International news agency contributed to this report.
