The US President Urges Thailand to Recommit to Cambodia Truce with Trade Penalties
The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, stating that trade talks could be paused as efforts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from falling apart.
Border Tensions Escalate
Earlier this week, Thai officials declared it was suspending the truce agreement, alleging Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, including one that reportedly wounded a Thai military personnel on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast.
Since then, one person has been killed and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, raising concerns of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.
US Trade Pressure
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a official communication from the U.S. trade office announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was received on the previous evening.
The spokesperson referenced the letter as stating that discussions on trade – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could resume once Thailand renewed its pledge to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” stated another government spokesperson.
President’s Economic Warning
Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, the US leader implied 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
Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has touted it as one of several deals around the world he says should win him the prestigious peace award.
The worst fighting in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced.
Longstanding Border Dispute
Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are claimed by both sides.
Reuters provided input for this coverage.
