Trump Pressures the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’
Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, stating that trade negotiations could be paused as efforts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
Earlier this week, Thai officials declared it was suspending the truce agreement, alleging Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that allegedly injured a Thai soldier on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.
Since then, one person has been killed and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.
American Economic Leverage
On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a letter from the U.S. trade office declaring the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on the previous evening.
The spokesperson referenced the document as saying that trade negotiations – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could restart once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration.
“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 flew to Florida on Friday, the US leader suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in discussions with the ASEAN nation heads.
The US president said, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” continuing, “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 world he claims should win him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and 300,000 displaced.
Longstanding Border Dispute
Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the frontier are disputed by each nation.
Reuters contributed to this report.
