The US President Urges the Thai government to Recommit to Cambodia Truce with Trade Penalties
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, indicating that trade negotiations could be suspended as efforts are made to stop a Trump-mediated peace agreement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
Earlier this week, Thailand announced it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, among them an incident that reportedly wounded a Thai military personnel on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.
Since then, one person has been killed and multiple individuals injured by gunfire 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 U.S. trade office announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on Friday night.
The spokesperson referenced the letter as saying that trade negotiations – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could restart once the Thai government renewed its pledge to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” said a different official representative.
President’s Economic Warning
Speaking to the press on Air Force One as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, Trump suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in calls with the south-east Asian leaders.
The US president said, “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.”
Ceasefire Agreement Background
The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he says should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a decade between military forces of both nations erupted in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced.
Historic Frontier Conflict
Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from conflicts regarding colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the frontier are claimed by both sides.
Reuters provided input for this coverage.
