The United States has intervened to prevent the collapse of a fragile truce between Thailand and Cambodia, linking the continuation of a critical trade negotiation to Bangkok’s recommitment to the peace agreement.
Tensions reignited earlier this week when Thailand declared it was suspending the ceasefire. The Thai government accused Cambodian forces of deploying new landmines along their shared frontier, an action it claims resulted in a Thai soldier losing a foot in an explosion. Subsequent armed exchanges have reportedly left one person dead and several others wounded, raising fears of a broader conflict.
In a direct move, the US Trade Representative informed Thai officials that discussions to address a 19% US tariff were being put on hold. According to a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson, the US communication stated that trade talks could only resume once Thailand formally reaffirmed its commitment to the joint ceasefire declaration.
However, a separate statement from the Thai government later sought to downplay the linkage, asserting that the trade negotiations would continue and were a separate matter from the border dispute.
The development follows a high-level phone call between the leaders of Thailand and the United States. The American president, speaking to reporters, suggested that the strategic “threat of tariffs” was a key tool used in discussions with Southeast Asian leaders to de-escalate the situation, claiming credit for having “stopped a war.”
The ceasefire in question was brokered earlier this fall and was hailed by the US administration as a significant foreign policy achievement. The recent clashes represent the most serious violence to occur between the two nations in years, a conflict rooted in a long-standing and bitter border dispute originating from colonial-era maps.
