🔗 Share this article Trump Compels the Thai government to Reaffirm Commitment to Cambodia Truce with Trade Penalties The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, warning that trade talks could be halted as attempts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from collapsing. Rising Border Hostilities Earlier this week, Thailand announced it was suspending the truce agreement, alleging Cambodia of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, including one that reportedly wounded a Thai military personnel on patrol, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast. Since then, one person has been killed and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a new round of retaliatory clashes. American Economic Leverage Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a letter from the U.S. trade office declaring the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on Friday night. The spokesperson referenced the document as stating that trade negotiations – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could resume once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration. “Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” stated a different official representative. Trump’s Tariff Threat Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on Friday, the US leader suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in discussions with the ASEAN nation heads. He stated, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” continuing, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.” Truce Deal Origins Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, held in Malaysia this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the world he claims should earn him the prestigious peace award. The worst fighting in a ten years between military forces of both nations broke out in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and 300,000 displaced. Longstanding Border Dispute The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to conflicts regarding colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the border are disputed by each nation. Reuters contributed to this report.