Trump Pressures the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Truce with Trade Penalties
The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, warning that trade negotiations could be halted as efforts are made to stop a Trump-mediated ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.
Border Tensions Escalate
Earlier this week, Thailand announced it was putting on hold the truce agreement, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.
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 retaliatory clashes.
American Economic Leverage
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was received on the previous evening.
He quoted the document as saying that trade negotiations – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could resume once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” stated a different official representative.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, Trump suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” 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’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”
Truce Deal Origins
Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he says should earn him the prestigious peace award.
The worst fighting in a decade between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks 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 colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the frontier are claimed by both sides.
Reuters contributed to this report.