Trump Pressures Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’

Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to recommit to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, stating that trade negotiations could be suspended as attempts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated ceasefire arrangement from collapsing.

Rising Border Hostilities

Earlier this week, Thailand announced it was putting on hold the truce agreement, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that allegedly wounded a Thai military personnel on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast.

Since then, one person has been killed and several others wounded by gunfire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting.

US Trade Pressure

Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson 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 document as stating that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could resume once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration.

“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” stated another government spokesperson.

President’s Economic Warning

Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, the US leader implied 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,” continuing, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”

Ceasefire Agreement Background

The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has touted it as one of multiple agreements around the world 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 exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks causing numerous fatalities and 300,000 displaced.

Historic Frontier Conflict

Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the border are disputed by each nation.

Reuters contributed to this report.