The US President Compels the Thai government to Recommit to Cambodia Truce with Tariff Warnings
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, indicating that trade talks could be paused as efforts are made to stop a Trump-mediated ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
In recent days, Thai officials declared it was putting on hold the truce agreement, accusing Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the shared border, including one that allegedly wounded a Thai soldier on patrol, who lost a foot in the explosion.
Following this, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting.
US Trade Pressure
Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a letter from the U.S. trade office declaring the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on Friday night.
He quoted the document as saying that trade negotiations – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could restart once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” stated another government spokesperson.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, the US leader suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in discussions with the south-east Asian leaders.
The US president said, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” continuing, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”
Truce Deal Origins
Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, 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 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 longstanding border dispute 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.