The US President Urges the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Ceasefire with Trade Penalties
The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with Cambodia, stating that trade negotiations could be suspended as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from collapsing.
Border Tensions Escalate
Earlier this week, Thailand declared it was putting on hold the truce agreement, alleging Cambodia of planting new explosives along the shared border, including one that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on patrol, who lost a foot in the blast.
Since then, one person has been killed and several others wounded 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 letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on the previous evening.
He quoted the document as stating that trade negotiations – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could resume once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said another government spokesperson.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Speaking to the press on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, Trump implied that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in discussions with the ASEAN nation heads.
He stated, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” adding, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”
Truce Deal Origins
Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this October, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the world he claims should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a decade between military forces of both nations erupted in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Longstanding Border Dispute
Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that originates from conflicts regarding colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the frontier are disputed by each nation.
Reuters provided input for this coverage.