Trump Pressures Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Truce with Tariff Warnings
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with Cambodia, indicating that trade talks could be suspended as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from collapsing.
Border Tensions Escalate
In recent days, Thai officials declared it was putting on hold the truce agreement, alleging Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, among them an incident that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who lost a foot in the blast.
Since then, one person has been killed and several others wounded by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.
US Trade Pressure
On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a official communication from the U.S. trade office declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on the previous evening.
The spokesperson referenced the document as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could resume once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said another government spokesperson.
Trump’s Tariff Threat
Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, 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’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 last autumn, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the world he claims should win him the prestigious peace award.
The most severe clashes in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks causing numerous fatalities 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 frontier are disputed by each nation.
Reuters contributed to this report.