The US President Pressures the Thai government to Recommit to Cambodia Truce with Trade Penalties
Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, warning that trade negotiations could be halted as attempts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from falling apart.
Rising Border Hostilities
In recent days, Thailand announced it was suspending the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that reportedly wounded a Thai military personnel on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast.
Since then, one person has been killed and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.
US Trade Pressure
On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on Friday night.
The spokesperson referenced the document as stating that discussions on trade – which are addressing 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.
President’s Economic Warning
Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, Trump suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in calls with the south-east Asian leaders.
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.”
Ceasefire Agreement Background
Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he claims should earn him the prestigious peace award.
The worst fighting in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in July, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.
Longstanding Border Dispute
The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to conflicts regarding colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the frontier are disputed by each nation.
International news agency contributed to this report.
