President Donald Trump seems to be leveraging his steep tariffs on Cambodia and Thailand to try to end the fighting between the two countries, which enters its third day on Saturday.
In multiple posts on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said he spoke to both countries’ leaders, urging them both to come to an agreement to end the conflict, or risk steep tariffs.
“Both Parties are looking for an immediate Ceasefire and Peace,” Trump wrote in the most recent post. “They are also looking to get back to the ‘Trading Table’ with the United States, which we think is inappropriate to do until such time as the fighting STOPS.”
His first call Saturday was with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, where he urged “an END to the War” and said that if the two countries do not reach an agreement to end the war, he will “not want to make any Deal, with either Country.”
Trump is on a diplomatic trip to Scotland, and according to reporters traveling with the president, had a golf outing planned at his course in Turnberry with one of his sons and the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom, Warren Stephens.
“The call with Cambodia has ended, but expect to call back regarding War stoppage and Ceasefire based on what Thailand has to say,” the president wrote. “I am trying to simplify a complex situation!”
Trump posted minutes later that he spoke with the acting prime minister of Thailand, Phumtham Wechayachai, and Trump said he “wants to have an immediate Ceasefire, and PEACE.”
The clashes have left at least 33 people dead and more than 168,000 displaced across both countries.
Trump compared the situation in Asia to the U.S.-mediated ceasefire agreed to by India and Pakistan earlier this year. At the time, the president said he told the countries that “If you stop it, we’ll do a trade,” adding that “If you don’t stop it, we’re not going to do any trade.”
But the Indian government disputed that claim from the U.S. leader. “The issue of trade didn’t come up in any of these discussions,” said a spokesperson for India’s foreign ministry.
Cambodia and Thailand have both been two of the hardest hit countries as a result of Trump’s trade war, as the president recently announced a 36 percent tariff on most Cambodian and Thai exports, effective August 1.
