Thailand Freezes Trump-Brokered Peace Agreement After Border Explosion
Thailand has temporarily halted the implementation of a peace pact with Cambodia that was brokered by US President Donald Trump, AFP reported on Monday. The move came after a landmine explosion along the tense border area injured two Thai soldiers, renewing security fears despite last month’s high-profile peace efforts.
According to AFP, the blast took place in Thailand’s Sisaket province, near a disputed section of the Thai-Cambodian frontier. One soldier suffered a serious leg injury, while another sustained minor wounds, the Royal Thai Army confirmed.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the attack proved that the region remained unstable despite the recent diplomatic progress. “We thought the security threat had eased, but it has not actually decreased,” the prime minister told reporters in Bangkok.
July War Turned Crisis into Diplomatic Test
The flare-up follows a violent border conflict between the two nations earlier this year. In July, fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces left at least 43 people dead and displaced more than 300,000 civilians across both sides of the border, according to reports by Firstpost.
That conflict involved airstrikes, rocket fire, and ground fighting, erupting after months of rising military tensions. Since then, both countries had sought ways to de-escalate the situation, with global powers pushing for dialogue.
Last month, President Trump brought the Thai and Cambodian leaders together in Malaysia, personally overseeing the signing of a peace deal that he hailed as a significant foreign policy win. However, Monday’s suspension raises questions about whether that accord can endure amid fresh violence.
Thailand Suspends “Follow-Up Measures”
Following the explosion, the Thai government announced it would suspend all “follow-up to the joint declaration” signed under the US-brokered peace initiative. According to officials, the next stage of implementation now on hold was expected to include the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers held in Thai custody since the July conflict.
Cambodia has not officially commented on the mine blast, but Phnom Penh’s foreign ministry reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment” to peace and cooperation in the region.
Long-Standing Dispute Over Sacred Borderland
The Thailand–Cambodia border has remained a geopolitical flashpoint for decades. The countries are locked in a territorial dispute over an area known as the Emerald Triangle the meeting point of Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. The zone is home to culturally significant and strategically valuable landmarks, including the ancient Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple.
Tensions near this temple erupted again earlier this year, weeks before the broader war began. Analysts believe both sides see the area not only as a matter of national sovereignty but also as a symbol of historical pride.
With the ceasefire now uncertain and military movements under renewed scrutiny, the Trump administration’s diplomatic achievement appears to be facing its toughest test yet.
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