Trump Compels Thailand to Recommit to Cambodia Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, stating that trade negotiations could be halted as attempts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from collapsing.
Rising Border Hostilities
Earlier this week, Thai officials declared it was suspending the truce agreement, accusing Cambodian forces 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 explosion.
Since then, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.
US Trade Pressure
Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a official communication from the U.S. trade office declaring the pause in trade negotiations was received on the previous evening.
He quoted the document as saying that trade negotiations – which are addressing 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 another government spokesperson.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on Friday, the US leader implied 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 are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”
Ceasefire Agreement Background
Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, held in Malaysia this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the globe he claims should earn him the prestigious peace award.
The most severe clashes in a ten years between military forces of both nations broke out in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
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 border are claimed by both sides.
Reuters contributed to this report.
