WASHINGTON — July 28, 2025:
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a firm message to Thailand and Cambodia, stating that the United States will not move forward with any trade agreements until both nations resolve their ongoing border tensions.
Speaking to reporters after a high-level meeting with the President of the European Union, Trump said he has personally reached out to the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia, urging them to end their conflict. “We do a lot of trade with Thailand and Cambodia—but they’re fighting, they’re killing each other,” Trump remarked. “I told them there will be no trade deal with the United States until they sit down and settle the matter peacefully.”
According to the President, leaders from both Southeast Asian nations are now expected to meet “today or tomorrow” in response to his intervention.
Trump described the move as part of a broader strategy to leverage U.S. trade relations as a tool for peace. “I stopped the war in Rwanda after 31 years. Thousands were killed. I used trade to stop that war,” he said, drawing a comparison to past conflicts. He also once again claimed credit for helping to de-escalate tensions between Pakistan and India—marking the 27th time he has publicly cited his role in averting a potential crisis between the South Asian rivals.
The comments came during a joint press appearance with EU leadership, where Trump emphasized that negotiations with Europe were progressing and that a trade agreement between the U.S. and EU would benefit both sides. He added that the two leaders also discussed other key international matters, including ongoing developments in Israel.
Trump’s remarks underscore his administration’s approach of using economic influence to pursue diplomatic goals—a tactic that has drawn both praise and criticism from foreign policy experts. Whether his latest attempt to pressure Thailand and Cambodia will lead to a meaningful breakthrough remains to be seen.
