Trump Compels Thailand to Recommit to Cambodia Truce with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, warning that trade talks could be suspended as attempts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from falling apart.
Border Tensions Escalate
Earlier this week, Thai officials announced it was putting on hold the truce agreement, alleging Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that allegedly injured a Thai soldier on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast.
Since then, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.
US Trade Pressure
On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a official communication from the U.S. trade office declaring the pause in trade negotiations was received on Friday night.
The spokesperson referenced the letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could restart once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” stated another government spokesperson.
President’s Economic Warning
Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, Trump implied that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in discussions with the ASEAN nation heads.
The US president said, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” continuing, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”
Truce Deal Origins
The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the globe he claims should earn him the prestigious peace award.
The most severe clashes in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Historic Frontier Conflict
Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are claimed by both sides.
International news agency provided input for this coverage.
