The US President Urges the Thai government to Recommit to Cambodia Ceasefire with Trade Penalties
The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, indicating that trade negotiations could be paused as attempts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from collapsing.
Border Tensions Escalate
In recent days, Thailand announced it was putting on hold the truce agreement, alleging Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that reportedly wounded 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 border between the two nations, sparking fears of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting.
US Trade Pressure
Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was received on the previous evening.
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 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.
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 south-east Asian leaders.
The US president said, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” adding, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”
Truce Deal Origins
Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, held in Malaysia this October, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the world he says should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.
The worst fighting in a decade between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Longstanding Border Dispute
Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that originates from disagreements over colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the frontier are claimed by both sides.
Reuters provided input for this coverage.
