The US President Urges the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Ceasefire with Trade Penalties
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, stating that trade talks could be halted as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.
Border Tensions Escalate
In recent days, Thailand announced it was suspending the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that reportedly wounded a Thai soldier on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast.
Following this, one person has been killed and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting.
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 pause in trade negotiations was received on the previous evening.
He quoted the document as stating that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could restart once the Thai government renewed its pledge to implementing the mutual truce agreement.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” said a different official representative.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, Trump implied 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,” adding, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”
Truce Deal Origins
Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, held in Malaysia this October, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he claims should win him the Nobel Peace prize.
The worst fighting in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and 300,000 displaced.
Historic Frontier Conflict
The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the frontier are disputed by each nation.
Reuters contributed to this report.
