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The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, indicating that trade talks could be halted as attempts are made to stop a Trump-mediated ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.

Rising Border Hostilities

Earlier this week, Thailand declared it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that reportedly injured a Thai soldier on patrol, who lost a foot in the blast.

Since then, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the border between the two nations, raising concerns of a new round of tit-for-tat fighting.

American Economic Leverage

Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told journalists that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the pause in trade negotiations was received 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 the Thai government renewed its pledge to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.

“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” stated a different official representative.

President’s Economic Warning

Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, Trump implied that he had employed tariff warnings in discussions with the south-east Asian leaders.

The US president said, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” continuing, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”

Truce Deal Origins

The President witnessed the finalization of a ceasefire agreement, held in Malaysia this October, and has touted it as one of several deals around the globe he claims should earn him the prestigious peace award.

The worst fighting in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced.

Longstanding Border Dispute

The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that originates from disagreements over colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are disputed by each nation.

International news agency provided input for this coverage.