🔗 Share this article

Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, warning that trade talks could be paused as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from collapsing.

Rising Border Hostilities

Earlier this week, Thailand announced it was putting on hold the truce agreement, accusing Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the shared border, including one that reportedly wounded a Thai military personnel on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.

Since then, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, raising concerns of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting.

American Economic Leverage

On Saturday, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on Friday night.

He quoted the document as stating that trade negotiations – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could restart once the Thai government renewed its pledge to carrying out 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 Friday, 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 peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, 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 mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.

Longstanding Border Dispute

The two neighboring countries 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 claimed by both sides.

International news agency contributed to this report.