🔗 Share this article

Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, warning that trade talks could be halted as efforts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from falling apart.

Rising Border Hostilities

In recent days, Thai officials announced it was suspending the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the shared border, among them an incident that reportedly injured a Thai soldier on duty, who lost a foot in the explosion.

Following this, one person has been killed and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting.

American Economic Leverage

Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a official communication from the U.S. trade office declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on Friday night.

The spokesperson referenced the document as stating that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could resume once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.

“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” stated another government spokesperson.

President’s Economic Warning

Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, the US leader suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in discussions with the south-east Asian leaders.

He stated, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” adding, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”

Truce Deal Origins

Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has touted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he claims should win him the prestigious peace award.

The worst fighting in a decade between military forces of both nations erupted in July, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.

Longstanding Border Dispute

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

Reuters contributed to this report.