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Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, stating that trade talks could be halted as efforts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing.

Border Tensions Escalate

Earlier this week, Thai officials declared it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodia of planting new explosives along the shared border, among them an incident that allegedly wounded a Thai soldier on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the blast.

Following this, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, raising concerns of a new round of retaliatory clashes.

US Trade Pressure

On Saturday, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on the previous evening.

The spokesperson referenced the document as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could resume once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.

“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said another government spokesperson.

Trump’s Tariff Threat

Speaking to the press on Air Force One as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, Trump suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in discussions with the ASEAN nation heads.

The US president said, “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

The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has touted it as one of several deals around the globe he claims should win him the Nobel Peace prize.

The most severe clashes in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops erupted in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.

Longstanding Border Dispute

The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to conflicts regarding colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the border are claimed by both sides.

Reuters provided input for this coverage.