The US President Pressures Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
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 Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing.
Rising Border Hostilities
Earlier this week, Thailand announced it was putting on hold the truce agreement, alleging Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast.
Since then, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns 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 official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the pause in trade negotiations was received on Friday night.
The spokesperson referenced the letter as saying that trade negotiations – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could resume once the Thai government renewed its pledge to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” said another government spokesperson.
President’s Economic Warning
Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on Friday, the US leader suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in discussions with the ASEAN nation heads.
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.”
Ceasefire Agreement Background
The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the globe he claims should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a ten years between military forces of both nations erupted in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Longstanding Border Dispute
Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the border are claimed by both sides.
International news agency contributed to this report.
