The US President Compels Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Truce with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, stating that trade negotiations could be suspended as attempts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from falling apart.
Border Tensions Escalate
In recent days, Thailand declared it was suspending the truce agreement, alleging Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.
Since then, one person has been killed and several others wounded by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a new round of retaliatory clashes.
American Economic Leverage
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on Friday night.
The spokesperson referenced the document as saying that trade negotiations – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could resume once Thailand renewed its pledge 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
Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, the US leader suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in discussions with the south-east Asian leaders.
The US president said, “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 October, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the world he says should earn him the prestigious peace award.
The most severe clashes in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Historic Frontier Conflict
Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to disagreements over colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are disputed by each nation.
Reuters contributed to this report.
