The US President Pressures Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Truce with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, stating that trade negotiations could be suspended as efforts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
In recent days, Thailand declared it was suspending the truce agreement, alleging Cambodia of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.
Since then, one person has been killed and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting.
US Trade Pressure
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a letter from the U.S. trade office announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was received on Friday night.
He quoted the letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – 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.
President’s Economic Warning
Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, Trump 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,” 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 October, and has touted it as one of several deals around the world he claims should win him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a decade between military forces of both nations erupted in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Longstanding Border Dispute
Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to conflicts regarding colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the border are disputed by each nation.
International news agency provided input for this coverage.
