Trump Compels Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’

The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, stating that trade talks could be paused as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from falling apart.

Border Tensions Escalate

In recent days, Thai officials announced it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who lost a foot in the explosion.

Since then, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting.

US Trade Pressure

On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on Friday night.

The spokesperson referenced the letter as saying that trade negotiations – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could resume once Thailand renewed its pledge to implementing the mutual truce agreement.

“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” stated another government spokesperson.

Trump’s Tariff Threat

Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, Trump 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 are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”

Truce Deal Origins

The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, held in Malaysia this October, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the world he says should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.

The worst fighting in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.

Longstanding Border Dispute

Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that originates from conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the frontier are disputed by each nation.

International news agency contributed to this report.