Trump Urges the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’

The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with Cambodia, indicating that trade negotiations could be suspended as attempts are made to stop 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 laying fresh landmines along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.

Following this, one person has been killed and several others wounded by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a new round of retaliatory clashes.

US Trade Pressure

Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was received on the previous evening.

He quoted the document as saying that trade negotiations – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could resume once the Thai government renewed its pledge to implementing 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 Friday, Trump implied that he had employed tariff warnings in calls with the ASEAN nation heads.

The US president said, “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 peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has touted it as one of several deals around the globe he claims should win him the Nobel Peace prize.

The worst fighting in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and 300,000 displaced.

Historic Frontier Conflict

The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the frontier are disputed by each nation.

Reuters provided input for this coverage.