Trump Compels the Thai government to Recommit to Cambodia Ceasefire with Trade Penalties
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, indicating that trade negotiations could be halted as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.
Border Tensions Escalate
Earlier this week, Thai officials announced it was suspending the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that reportedly wounded a Thai soldier on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.
Following this, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting.
US Trade Pressure
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a letter from the U.S. trade office declaring the pause in trade negotiations was received on the previous evening.
He quoted the document as saying that discussions on trade – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could restart once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the mutual truce agreement.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said a different official representative.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, Trump suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in calls with the ASEAN nation heads.
He stated, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” continuing, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”
Truce Deal Origins
Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory 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 erupted in July, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced.
Longstanding Border Dispute
The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to disagreements over colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the frontier are disputed by each nation.
Reuters contributed to this report.
