Trump Pressures Thailand to Recommit to Cambodia Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, warning that trade talks could be halted as attempts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from falling apart.
Border Tensions Escalate
Earlier this week, Thailand announced it was putting on hold the truce agreement, accusing Cambodia of planting new explosives along the shared border, including one that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel on patrol, who lost a foot in the explosion.
Since then, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, 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 letter from the U.S. trade office announcing the pause in trade negotiations was received on Friday night.
The spokesperson referenced the letter 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 joint ceasefire declaration.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” 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, the US leader suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in calls 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.”
Ceasefire Agreement Background
Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has touted it as one of several deals around the globe he says should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a ten years between military forces of both nations erupted in July, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Historic Frontier Conflict
The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from disagreements over colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the border are disputed by each nation.
Reuters contributed to this report.
