The US President Compels Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Truce 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 efforts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
Earlier this week, Thailand announced it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the mutual frontier, including one that reportedly injured a Thai soldier on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast.
Since then, one person has been killed and several others wounded by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting.
US Trade Pressure
Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a official communication from the U.S. trade office announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on the previous evening.
He quoted the document as saying that discussions on trade – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could resume once Thailand renewed its pledge to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” stated a different official representative.
President’s Economic Warning
Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on Friday, Trump suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in discussions with the south-east Asian leaders.
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.”
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 says should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a decade between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks causing numerous fatalities and 300,000 displaced.
Historic Frontier Conflict
Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the frontier are disputed by each nation.
Reuters contributed to this report.
