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The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, indicating that trade negotiations could be halted as efforts are made to stop a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing.

Rising Border Hostilities

Earlier this week, Thailand announced it was putting on hold the truce agreement, accusing Cambodia of planting new explosives along the shared border, including one that allegedly wounded a Thai military personnel on duty, who suffered a foot amputation 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 retaliatory clashes.

American Economic Leverage

Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on Friday night.

The spokesperson referenced the letter as saying that discussions on trade – 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,” said another government spokesperson.

President’s Economic Warning

Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on Friday, Trump 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 are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”

Ceasefire Agreement Background

Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this October, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he says should win him the Nobel Peace prize.

The worst fighting in a decade between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced.

Historic Frontier Conflict

The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the frontier are disputed by each nation.

International news agency provided input for this coverage.