Trump Urges the Thai government to Recommit to Cambodian Truce with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, warning that trade talks could be suspended as efforts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
In recent days, Thailand declared it was suspending the truce agreement, alleging Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that reportedly wounded a Thai soldier on patrol, who lost a foot in the blast.
Following this, one person has been killed and several others wounded 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 informed reporters that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the pause in trade negotiations was received on Friday night.
He quoted the document as stating that discussions on trade – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could resume once the Thai government renewed its pledge to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said a different official representative.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on Friday, Trump implied 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
The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has touted it as one of several deals around the world he claims should win him the prestigious peace award.
The most severe clashes in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in July, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Longstanding Border Dispute
The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to disagreements over colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the border are claimed by both sides.
International news agency contributed to this report.
