The US President Urges Thailand to Recommit to Cambodia Ceasefire with Trade Penalties
The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, stating that trade talks could be suspended as attempts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing.
Rising Border Hostilities
In recent days, Thailand announced it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodia of planting new explosives along the shared border, among them an incident that allegedly injured a Thai soldier on duty, who lost a foot in the explosion.
Since then, a fatality occurred 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
On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a official communication from the U.S. trade office announcing the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on the previous evening.
The spokesperson referenced the letter as stating that discussions on trade – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could resume once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” stated another government spokesperson.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, the US leader suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” 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,” adding, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”
Truce Deal Origins
The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the world he claims 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 causing numerous fatalities and 300,000 displaced.
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. Historic shrines along the border are disputed by each nation.
Reuters contributed to this report.
