Trump Pressures Thailand to Recommit to Cambodia Truce with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, stating that trade talks could be paused as attempts are made to stop a Trump-mediated peace agreement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
Earlier this week, Thailand announced it was suspending the truce agreement, alleging Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, among them an incident that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who suffered a foot amputation 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 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 Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on Friday night.
The spokesperson referenced the letter as stating that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could resume 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 Friday, Trump implied that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in calls with the ASEAN nation heads.
The US president said, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” adding, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”
Truce Deal Origins
Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, held in Malaysia this last autumn, and has touted it as one of several deals around the globe he says should win him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a decade between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced.
Historic Frontier Conflict
The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the frontier are disputed by each nation.
International news agency contributed to this report.
