🔗 Share this article Trump Compels Thailand to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Ceasefire with Trade Penalties The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with Cambodia, stating that trade talks could be halted as efforts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from falling apart. Border Tensions Escalate In recent days, Thailand declared it was putting on hold the truce agreement, accusing Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the shared border, including one that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel on patrol, who lost a foot in the explosion. Since then, one person has been killed and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting. US Trade Pressure Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a official communication from the U.S. trade office declaring the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on Friday night. The spokesperson referenced the document as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could restart once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the mutual truce agreement. “Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” said a different official representative. Trump’s Tariff Threat Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, Trump suggested 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,” adding, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.” Truce Deal Origins The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, held in Malaysia this October, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he claims should earn him the Nobel Peace prize. 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 300,000 displaced. Longstanding Border Dispute The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the frontier are claimed by both sides. International news agency contributed to this report.