Thailand suspends Cambodia peace deal after landmine blast

A landmine injured two Thai soldiers on patrol near the border, endangering a peace agreement overseen by US President Donald Trump.

Thailand announced on Monday it was suspending a peace agreement with Cambodia after two Thai soldiers on border patrol were injured in a land mine blast.

“The follow-up to the joint declaration that we have been doing for about a week will stop,” government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat said.

Border clashes between the two countries threatened to spill into an all out war in the summer, before US President Donald Trump helped broker a ceasefire that has largely held since July.

The next step of the ceasefire included the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers detained in Thailand. On Monday, Angkasakulkiat said the release will be paused.

A sergeant lost his right foot after stepping on a land mine while on a patrol along the border in Sisaket province, the Royal Thai Army said on Monday.

The blast caused chest tightness in another soldier. Both were receiving treatment at a hospital.

Thai Defense Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit said the military was yet to determine whether the land mine that went off was planted recently, or if it was left over.

Thailand and Cambodia have a long-standing border dispute which has lasted for over a century. The summer clashes however were mainly fueled by Thai claims that Cambodia was planting land mines that wounded Thai troops.

Since the ceasefire, both sides have been working on arms removal and citing progress. However, Thailand still accuses Cambodia of obstructing the mine clearance process, while Phnom Penh insists it is committed to the agreement fully.