Trump Pressures the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Truce with Tariff Warnings

The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, stating that trade talks could be paused as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from collapsing.

Rising Border Hostilities

In recent days, Thailand announced it was putting on hold the truce agreement, alleging Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the shared border, among them an incident that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.

Following this, one person has been killed and several others wounded by gunfire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.

American Economic Leverage

On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office 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.

He quoted the document as saying that trade negotiations – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could restart once the Thai government renewed its pledge to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration.

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

President’s Economic Warning

Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he flew to Florida on Friday, the US leader suggested 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,” continuing, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”

Truce Deal Origins

Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has touted it as one of several deals around the world he says should win him the Nobel Peace prize.

The most severe clashes in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced.

Historic Frontier Conflict

Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to disagreements over 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.