🔗 Share this article Trump Pressures the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Ceasefire with Trade Penalties Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to recommit to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, warning that trade talks could be suspended as attempts are made to stop a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing. Rising Border Hostilities Earlier this week, Thailand announced it was suspending the truce agreement, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who lost a foot in the explosion. Following this, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the border between the two nations, raising concerns of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting. American Economic Leverage On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a official communication from the U.S. trade office declaring the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on the previous evening. He quoted the letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could resume once Thailand renewed its pledge to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration. “Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” stated a different official representative. Trump’s Tariff Threat Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, Trump implied that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in calls with the south-east Asian leaders. The US president said, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” continuing, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.” Ceasefire Agreement Background The President witnessed the finalization of a ceasefire agreement, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has promoted 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 Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in July, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee. Historic Frontier Conflict The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to disagreements over maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the border are claimed by both sides. International news agency provided input for this coverage.