The US President Compels the Thai government to Recommit to Cambodia Ceasefire with Trade Penalties
Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, warning that trade talks could be halted as efforts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
In recent days, Thailand declared it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodia of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that reportedly wounded a Thai soldier on duty, who lost a foot in the blast.
Since then, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting.
US Trade Pressure
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a letter from the U.S. trade office announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on the previous evening.
The spokesperson referenced the letter as saying that trade negotiations – 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.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” said another government spokesperson.
President’s Economic Warning
Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, Trump suggested 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 peace deal, held in Malaysia this last autumn, and has touted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he says should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.
The most severe clashes in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Historic Frontier Conflict
Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to disagreements over maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the border are disputed by each nation.
Reuters provided input for this coverage.
