The US President Urges Thailand to Recommit to Cambodian Truce with Trade Penalties
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, stating that trade talks could be halted as efforts are made to stop a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing.
Border Tensions Escalate
In recent days, Thai officials announced it was suspending the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, including one that reportedly injured a Thai soldier on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast.
Following this, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting.
US Trade Pressure
Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a official communication from the U.S. trade office announcing the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on the previous evening.
He quoted the letter as saying that trade negotiations – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could restart once Thailand renewed its pledge to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” said another government spokesperson.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, the US leader suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in discussions with the south-east Asian leaders.
He stated, “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.”
Ceasefire Agreement Background
Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the globe he says should win 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 hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Longstanding Border Dispute
The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the border are claimed by both sides.
Reuters provided input for this coverage.
