🔗 Share this article

The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, indicating that trade talks could be paused as attempts are made to stop a Trump-mediated ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.

Rising Border Hostilities

In recent days, Thai officials declared it was suspending the truce agreement, accusing Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that reportedly injured a Thai soldier on duty, who lost a foot in the blast.

Following this, one person has been killed and multiple individuals injured by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting.

US Trade Pressure

Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on the previous evening.

The spokesperson referenced the document as saying that trade negotiations – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could resume once Thailand renewed its pledge to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.

“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said another government spokesperson.

Trump’s Tariff Threat

Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, the US leader suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in calls with the ASEAN nation heads.

The US president said, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” continuing, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”

Truce Deal Origins

The President witnessed the finalization of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this October, and has touted it as one of several deals around the globe he claims should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.

The worst fighting in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.

Historic Frontier Conflict

Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to conflicts regarding colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are disputed by each nation.

International news agency contributed to this report.