🔗 Share this article

Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, warning that trade negotiations could be halted as attempts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.

Border Tensions Escalate

In recent days, Thai officials declared it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that reportedly injured a Thai soldier on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.

Since then, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.

American Economic Leverage

On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a official communication from the U.S. trade office declaring the pause in trade negotiations was received on the previous evening.

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

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

President’s Economic Warning

Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, Trump suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in discussions with the south-east Asian leaders.

He stated, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” adding, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”

Ceasefire Agreement Background

Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this last autumn, and has touted it as one of several deals around the globe he claims should win him the Nobel Peace prize.

The worst fighting in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.

Longstanding Border Dispute

Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to conflicts regarding colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the border are claimed by both sides.

Reuters contributed to this report.