Trump Urges Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Truce with Trade Penalties
Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to recommit to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, indicating that trade negotiations could be paused as attempts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
In recent days, Thai officials declared it was putting on hold the truce agreement, alleging Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that reportedly wounded a Thai soldier on duty, who lost a foot in the blast.
Since then, one person has been killed and multiple individuals injured by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, raising concerns of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting.
US Trade Pressure
Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a letter from the U.S. trade office declaring the pause in trade negotiations was received on Friday night.
The spokesperson referenced the letter as saying that trade negotiations – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could restart once the Thai government 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.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Speaking to the press on Air Force One as he flew to Florida on Friday, Trump implied that he had employed tariff warnings in discussions with the south-east Asian leaders.
He stated, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” continuing, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”
Truce Deal Origins
Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he says should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a decade between military forces of both nations erupted in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Longstanding Border Dispute
The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that originates from disagreements over colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the border are disputed by each nation.
Reuters provided input for this coverage.
