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

The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, stating that trade talks could be paused as attempts are made to stop a Trump-mediated ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.

Border Tensions Escalate

In recent days, Thailand announced it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodia of planting new explosives along the shared border, including one that reportedly wounded a Thai military personnel on patrol, who lost a foot in the blast.

Following this, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a new round of retaliatory clashes.

US Trade Pressure

On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the pause in trade negotiations was received on the previous evening.

The spokesperson referenced the document as stating that trade negotiations – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could resume once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the mutual truce agreement.

“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said a different official representative.

President’s Economic Warning

Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, the US leader suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in calls with the ASEAN nation heads.

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

Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he says should win him the Nobel Peace prize.

The worst fighting in a decade 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.

Longstanding Border Dispute

Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to conflicts regarding colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the border are claimed by both sides.

International news agency contributed to this report.