SCOTLAND — President Donald Trump has credited economic pressure as the key to brokering a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, following a series of border clashes that escalated in July 2025. Speaking from the White House, Trump stated:

"We solved it through trade. I said, 'I don't want to trade with anybody that's killing each other.'"

The comment highlights the Trump administration’s distinctive foreign policy style — prioritizing economic incentives and disincentives over traditional diplomatic frameworks. While the ceasefire between the two Southeast Asian nations has been welcomed globally, it has also reignited debate over the long-term viability of such tactics.

Analysts note this development falls squarely within the framework of Trump’s broader approach to foreign policy. It echoes his preference for bilateral negotiations and economic leverage over multilateral diplomacy, a theme that underpins many of his key international actions.

The Trump White House has made strategic use of trade not just in Asia but around the world — applying tariffs and trade threats as negotiation tools with China, Mexico, NATO allies, and Iran. The same principle is now being extended into peacekeeping efforts, with Trump making clear that U.S. market access is conditional on regional stability.

This instance also connects to the President’s national security focus, including Executive Order 14161, which emphasizes strengthening counterterrorism policy and defending American strategic interests abroad. While critics argue this approach risks oversimplifying complex geopolitical issues, supporters praise its directness and tangible results, as seen in the swift Cambodian–Thai ceasefire.

However, questions remain about how sustainable such peace deals are without broader diplomatic frameworks in place — and whether other conflicts, such as Ukraine, Sudan, or Israel-Gaza, could be influenced similarly through trade threats alone.

For now, Southeast Asia has seen a moment of calm — and President Trump is once again turning heads with an unorthodox but effective brand of diplomacy.