Trump Urges Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Ceasefire with Trade Penalties
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, warning that trade negotiations could be halted as efforts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing.
Rising Border Hostilities
In recent days, Thai officials announced it was suspending the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that reportedly wounded a Thai soldier on duty, who lost a foot in the blast.
Following this, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.
US Trade Pressure
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a letter from the U.S. trade office announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on the previous evening.
The spokesperson referenced the letter as stating that trade negotiations – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could restart once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the mutual truce agreement.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” stated another government spokesperson.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Speaking to the press on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, Trump 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,” continuing, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”
Ceasefire Agreement Background
Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, held in Malaysia this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he claims should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.
The worst fighting in a decade 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.
Longstanding Border Dispute
The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that originates from conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the border are disputed by each nation.
International news agency contributed to this report.
