Trump Urges Thailand to Recommit to Cambodia Truce with Tariff Warnings
The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, warning that trade talks could be halted as efforts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.
Border Tensions Escalate
Earlier this week, Thai officials announced it was suspending the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the shared border, among them an incident that allegedly injured a Thai soldier on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.
Since then, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the border between the two nations, raising concerns of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting.
American Economic Leverage
On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on the previous evening.
He quoted the letter as stating that trade negotiations – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could restart once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” stated another government spokesperson.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, the US leader implied that he had used the “threat of tariffs” 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,” continuing, “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 touted it as one of several deals around the globe he claims should win him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed 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 frontier are claimed by both sides.
International news agency contributed to this report.
