The US President Compels the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodian Truce with Tariff Warnings

The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, indicating that trade negotiations could be paused as attempts are made to stop a Trump-mediated peace agreement from falling apart.

Border Tensions Escalate

In recent days, Thailand announced it was suspending the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the mutual frontier, including one that reportedly wounded a Thai soldier on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast.

Since then, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a fresh wave 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 U.S. trade office declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was received on the previous evening.

He quoted the letter as stating that discussions on trade – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could resume once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the mutual truce agreement.

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

President’s Economic Warning

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

The US president said, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” continuing, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”

Truce Deal Origins

Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, held in Malaysia this October, and has touted it as one of several deals around the world he says should win him the Nobel Peace prize.

The most severe clashes in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.

Historic Frontier Conflict

The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from conflicts regarding colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the frontier are claimed by both sides.

International news agency contributed to this report.