Trump Pressures Thailand to Recommit to Cambodian Ceasefire with Trade Penalties

Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, indicating that trade talks could be halted as attempts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from collapsing.

Rising Border Hostilities

Earlier this week, Thailand declared it was suspending the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodia of planting new explosives along the shared border, among them an incident that allegedly wounded a Thai soldier on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.

Since then, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by gunfire along the border between the two nations, raising concerns of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting.

US Trade Pressure

On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the pause in trade negotiations was received on Friday night.

He quoted the letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could resume once Thailand renewed its pledge to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.

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

Trump’s Tariff Threat

Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he flew to Florida on Friday, Trump suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in discussions with the ASEAN nation heads.

The US president said, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” adding, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”

Ceasefire Agreement Background

Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the globe he claims should win him the Nobel Peace prize.

The worst fighting in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.

Longstanding Border Dispute

The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the frontier are disputed by each nation.

Reuters contributed to this report.