The trade war playbook is back — and this time, former U.S. President Donald Trump has turned his sights on Southeast Asia. In a dramatic move, Trump has warned Cambodia and Thailand that if they don’t end their deadly conflict immediately, they’ll face even harsher economic penalties from the United States.
The border violence, which erupted earlier this week, has now dragged into its third bloody day, with at least 33 people killed and over 168,000 forced to flee their homes. Refugee camps are overflowing as families cross borders to escape the artillery fire and skirmishes along disputed territories.
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🗣️ Trump’s Ultimatum from Scotland — Between Diplomacy & Golf
In true Trump fashion, the former president delivered his message not from Washington but from his golf resort in Scotland, where he was mixing a bit of diplomacy with a lot of golf.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump declared that he had personally called the leaders of both nations — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai — demanding they agree to a ceasefire or forget about doing any trade with the United States.
> “Both Parties are looking for an immediate Ceasefire and Peace. They also want 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,” Trump wrote.
$BTC $TRUMP He even interrupted his planned tee time at Turnberry, his iconic Scottish golf resort, to make the calls. According to his post, Trump spoke first with Hun Manet, urging him to “END the War NOW.” Minutes later, he was on the phone with Phumtham, who reportedly agreed in principle to work toward an immediate ceasefire.
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⚔️ A Familiar Playbook: Trade as a Weapon
This isn’t the first time Trump has threatened to weaponize trade. Earlier this year, he claimed to have pressured India and Pakistan to de-escalate their own border tensions by threatening to suspend trade deals — although India later denied trade was ever on the table.
Now, Cambodia and Thailand find themselves in the crosshairs of Trump’s trade war strategy. Just last week, Trump slapped a massive 36% tariff on most exports coming from both countries. That penalty kicks in on August 1, but it could be just the beginning if the violence drags on.
> “If they don’t make peace, they don’t get a deal — simple,” Trump reportedly told close aides at Turnberry. “We’re not rewarding war with trade.”
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🌏 Why This Conflict Matters Globally
For Cambodia and Thailand, the stakes are enormous. Both countries rely heavily on exports of textiles, electronics, rubber, and agriculture to the U.S. market. New or higher tariffs could cripple their economies, hitting factories, supply chains, and local workers the hardest.
Neighboring ASEAN nations are watching closely too — any prolonged conflict could destabilize trade routes, displace more refugees, and pull in other countries economically or politically.
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💰 The Crypto Angle: Turbulence = Opportunity?
Geopolitical crises like this have ripple effects far beyond the battlefield. When traditional supply chains break down or trade wars heat up, investors often flee to safe-haven assets like gold, Bitcoin, stablecoins, or DeFi protocols.
In recent years, we’ve seen how global conflicts and sanctions have driven record spikes in crypto adoption, especially in emerging markets. If Cambodia and Thailand face export restrictions and their currencies weaken, citizens and businesses may look to crypto to move capital, hedge risk, or access USD liquidity outside the traditional banking system.
For global crypto traders, increased market uncertainty can also mean more volatility — and for some, bigger opportunities to profit from price swings.
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Amid all the chaos, the crypto space keeps evolving. If you’re looking to protect your wealth and earn passive income, now’s the time to skill up. The upcoming Cryptopolitan Academy will help you learn how to generate yield using DeFi protocols, stablecoins, staking, and more — so you’re prepared for any global trade shock.
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✅ What Happens Next?
The world now waits to see if Cambodia and Thailand will heed Trump’s warning and pull back from the brink — or risk a devastating blow to their economies. Meanwhile, crypto markets will watch closely for any ripple effect on capital flows, investor sentiment, and safe-haven demand.
👉 Follow for real-time updates on how global conflicts, trade wars, and sanctions shape crypto markets.
Stay smart. Stay prepared. Stay profitable.
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