Trump Urges Thailand to Recommit to Cambodia Ceasefire with ‘Threat of Tariffs’

Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, indicating that trade talks could be suspended as attempts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing.

Rising Border Hostilities

In recent days, Thai officials announced it was suspending the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that reportedly wounded a Thai soldier on duty, who lost a foot in the explosion.

Following this, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a new round of retaliatory clashes.

American Economic Leverage

On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a official communication from the U.S. trade office declaring the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on the previous evening.

The spokesperson referenced the document as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could restart once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.

“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” stated another government spokesperson.

President’s Economic Warning

Speaking to the press on Air Force One as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, the US leader implied that he had employed tariff warnings in discussions 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,” adding, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”

Ceasefire Agreement Background

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 claims should earn him the prestigious peace award.

The worst fighting in a ten years 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 originates from conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are disputed by each nation.

Reuters contributed to this report.