Trump Urges Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Truce with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, warning that trade talks could be halted as efforts are made to prevent 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, among them an incident that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who lost a foot in the blast.
Following this, one person has been killed and multiple individuals injured by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a new round of retaliatory clashes.
American Economic Leverage
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the pause in trade negotiations was received on Friday night.
The spokesperson referenced the letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could resume once Thailand renewed its pledge to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” stated a different official representative.
President’s Economic Warning
Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on Friday, Trump suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in calls with the ASEAN nation heads.
The US president said, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” continuing, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”
Ceasefire Agreement Background
The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has touted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he says should earn him the prestigious peace award.
The worst fighting in a ten years 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 maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the frontier are claimed by both sides.
International news agency contributed to this report.
