Thai Foreign Minister rejects tariff pressure amid renewed border conflict with Cambodia, urges neighbor to de-escalate

BANGKOK: Thailand’s foreign minister pushed back Tuesday against growing pressure to tie U.S. trade tariffs to the worsening conflict along the Thai-Cambodian border, saying such political leverage would do little to calm the violence now unfolding there.

Speaking with Reuters, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow argued that Washington shouldn’t return to the strategy used last year, when then-President Donald Trump threatened to freeze tariff negotiations unless the two neighbouring countries halted their fighting. That warning ultimately helped bring about an expanded ceasefire — one Trump attended in person — but the fragile truce has since collapsed. “We don’t think tariffs should be used to pressure Thailand to return to the joint declaration or to restart dialogue,” Sihasak said. “Thai-Cambodian relations need to be kept separate from trade talks.”

His comments came after fighting once again erupted on Monday, following weeks of rising tension. The clashes quickly spread along much of the 817-kilometre border, with heavy artillery and rocket fire killing at least 12 people and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee. Each side insists the other pulled the trigger first.

Although Trump has not publicly addressed the renewed violence, a U.S. administration official said Washington still expects both nations to honour their commitments to end the conflict.

Thailand, however, remains skeptical that outside mediation would help. Sihasak insisted meaningful progress depends on Cambodia taking the first step toward de-escalation. “If the other side truly wants to end the conflict, we’re ready to listen,” he said. “Cambodia can stop what they’re doing and signal that they’re ready to talk.”

Cambodia tells a different story. It accuses Thailand of aggression and insists it has continued to respect last year’s ceasefire. Influential former leader Hun Sen said Cambodian forces held back for 24 hours before launching overnight counter-attacks.

Meanwhile, the stakes keep rising. Thailand has deployed more advanced weaponry — including fighter jets — to strike across the border, raising fears that the conflict could expand if diplomacy falters. “There are two paths we can take,” Sihasak warned. “We can work to reduce tensions and pursue peace, or we can continue toward greater conflict and more loss.”

Thailand withdrew from the October ceasefire agreement last month after a landmine blast severely wounded one of its soldiers — another blow to a peace effort that now hangs by a thread.