Thailand has announced the suspension of the peace process with Cambodia, which was agreed upon just last month alongside US President Donald Trump, following an incident where Thai soldiers were injured by land mines along the border.
The decision was confirmed by Defense Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit, who stated:
“All terms in the joint declaration will be suspended, and the plan to release Cambodian detainees will be terminated.”
Government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat confirmed that the suspension will remain in place until tensions subside. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed the defense ministry to step up military operations to protect Thai sovereignty and secure the border. The government is also considering revoking the peace deal altogether unless Cambodia formally responds to Thailand’s protest.
The Land Mine Incident
The Thai army stated that the soldiers were injured by newly laid mines, marking the seventh such incident in four months. This follows a wave of explosions in July that led to the deadliest border clashes in years before President Trump’s intervention.
- Prime Minister Anutin plans to visit the injured soldiers in Si Sa Ket province.
- Cambodia’s defense ministry denied the mines were newly laid, suggesting they were likely uncleared remnants of past conflicts.
- Cambodia maintained in a statement that it “remains committed to working closely with Thailand to promote peace and stability” under the Trump-backed declaration.
The Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords
The peace deal, known as the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords, was a condition for both countries to agree to trade terms with the US after President Trump threatened to scupper existing deals unless the fighting halted.
The Accords outlined two key measures:
- The removal of heavy weapons from border zones between November 1 and December 31.
- Cooperation on land-mine clearances as part of efforts to normalize ties.
Thailand had also been seeking Cambodia’s crackdown on cyber-scam operations originating there.
Context of US Involvement
The US-Thai trade deal, the framework of which was outlined last month, included preliminary agreements on Thailand’s elimination of tariff barriers on about 99% of US goods. In return, the US would impose 19% tariffs on Thailand, with some products set to be tariff-free. Thai authorities noted that the framework is non-binding, with detailed talks aimed for conclusion by the end of the year.