The US President Pressures Thailand to Recommit to Cambodia Truce with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with Cambodia, stating that trade talks could be suspended as attempts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from collapsing.
Rising Border Hostilities
In recent days, Thai officials announced it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that reportedly wounded a Thai soldier on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast.
Following this, one person has been killed and several others wounded by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.
American Economic Leverage
On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on Friday night.
He quoted the document as stating that trade negotiations – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could restart once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said a different official representative.
President’s Economic Warning
Speaking to the press on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, Trump implied that he had employed tariff warnings 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,” continuing, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”
Ceasefire Agreement Background
The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, held in Malaysia this last autumn, and has touted it as one of several deals around the world he says should win him the prestigious peace award.
The worst fighting in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes 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. Historic shrines along the frontier are disputed by each nation.
International news agency provided input for this coverage.