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 truce deal with Cambodia, stating that trade talks could be suspended as attempts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
Earlier this week, Thailand announced it was suspending the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the mutual frontier, including one that reportedly injured a Thai soldier on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.
Since then, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a new round of retaliatory clashes.
American Economic Leverage
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was received on the previous evening.
He quoted the document as saying that trade negotiations – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could resume once Thailand renewed its pledge to implementing the mutual truce agreement.
“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 Friday, the US leader implied that he had employed tariff warnings in calls 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 ceasefire agreement, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has touted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he says should win him the Nobel Peace prize.
The worst fighting in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Longstanding Border Dispute
The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from conflicts regarding colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the frontier are claimed by both sides.
Reuters contributed to this report.
