Trump Pressures Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Ceasefire with Tariff Warnings

The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, warning that trade negotiations could be suspended as attempts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from collapsing.

Rising Border Hostilities

Earlier this week, Thailand declared it was putting on hold the truce agreement, alleging Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.

Since then, one person has been killed and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.

American Economic Leverage

Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a letter from the U.S. trade office declaring the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on the previous evening.

He quoted the document as saying 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 joint ceasefire declaration.

“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said a different official representative.

President’s Economic Warning

Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, Trump suggested 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’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 October, and has touted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he claims should win him the Nobel Peace prize.

The worst fighting in a decade between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities 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 drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the frontier are disputed by each nation.

Reuters contributed to this report.