Trump Compels Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Ceasefire with Tariff Warnings
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, warning that trade negotiations could be paused as efforts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from falling apart.
Border Tensions Escalate
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 injured a Thai military personnel on patrol, who lost a foot 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 new round of retaliatory clashes.
US Trade Pressure
On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the pause in trade negotiations was received on the previous evening.
The spokesperson referenced the document as stating that trade negotiations – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could resume once Thailand renewed its pledge to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” stated a different official representative.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, the US leader suggested 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.”
Ceasefire Agreement Background
The President witnessed the finalization of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he says should earn him the prestigious peace award.
The worst fighting in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Historic Frontier Conflict
The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from disagreements over colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the border are claimed by both sides.
International news agency contributed to this report.
