The US President Compels Thailand to Recommit to Cambodia Truce with Trade Penalties
Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to recommit to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, stating that trade talks could be halted as attempts are made to stop a Trump-mediated peace agreement from falling apart.
Border Tensions Escalate
In recent days, Thai officials declared it was putting on hold the truce agreement, accusing Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the shared border, including one that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who lost a foot in the blast.
Following this, one person has been killed and several others wounded by gunfire along the border between the two nations, raising concerns of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.
American Economic Leverage
Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a official communication from the U.S. trade office declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on Friday night.
The spokesperson referenced the letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could restart once the Thai government renewed its pledge to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.
“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” said another government spokesperson.
President’s Economic Warning
Speaking to the press on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, the US leader implied that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in calls with the south-east Asian leaders.
The US president said, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” continuing, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”
Truce Deal Origins
Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, held in Malaysia this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the globe he says should earn him the prestigious peace award.
The worst fighting in a decade between military forces of both nations erupted in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes 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 maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the border are disputed by each nation.
Reuters contributed to this report.
