Trump Compels Thailand to Recommit to Cambodian Ceasefire with Trade Penalties
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, warning that trade negotiations could be suspended as attempts are made to stop a Trump-mediated peace agreement from falling apart.
Border Tensions Escalate
In recent days, Thai officials declared it was putting on hold the truce agreement, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, among them an incident that reportedly injured a Thai soldier on duty, who lost a foot in the explosion.
Following this, 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.
American Economic Leverage
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 suspension of trade deal talks was received on the previous evening.
He quoted the document as stating that trade negotiations – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could resume once the Thai government renewed its pledge to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” said a different official representative.
President’s Economic Warning
Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, the US leader 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 are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”
Truce Deal Origins
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 world he claims should win him the prestigious peace award.
The worst fighting in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in July, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Longstanding Border Dispute
The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to conflicts regarding colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the border are disputed by each nation.
Reuters provided input for this coverage.
