The US President Pressures the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Truce with Trade Penalties

The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to recommit to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, warning that trade negotiations could be paused as efforts are made to stop a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing.

Border Tensions Escalate

In recent days, Thai officials announced it was suspending the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodia of planting new explosives along the shared border, among them an incident that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.

Following this, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.

US Trade Pressure

Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a letter from the U.S. trade office declaring the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on the previous evening.

The spokesperson referenced the letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could restart once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the joint ceasefire declaration.

“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said a different official representative.

Trump’s Tariff Threat

Addressing reporters on Air Force One 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.

He stated, “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.”

Ceasefire Agreement Background

Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he says should earn him the prestigious peace award.

The worst fighting in a decade between military forces of both nations erupted in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced.

Historic Frontier Conflict

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.