The US President Pressures the Thai government to Recommit to Cambodia Truce with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, stating that trade negotiations could be suspended as attempts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
Earlier this week, Thai officials declared it was suspending the truce agreement, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, among them an incident that reportedly wounded a Thai soldier on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.
Since then, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.
American Economic Leverage
Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the pause in trade negotiations was received on Friday night.
The spokesperson referenced the document as saying that trade negotiations – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could resume once the Thai government renewed its pledge to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” stated a different official representative.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Speaking to the press on Air Force One 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, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” adding, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”
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 several deals around the world he says should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in mid-summer, 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 dates back to conflicts regarding colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the border are disputed by each nation.
Reuters contributed to this report.