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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 paused as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from collapsing.

Rising Border Hostilities

In recent days, Thai officials announced it was suspending the truce agreement, alleging Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the mutual frontier, among them an incident that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on patrol, who lost a foot in the blast.

Following this, one person has been killed and several others wounded by gunfire along the border between the two nations, raising concerns of a new round of retaliatory clashes.

US Trade Pressure

Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the pause in trade negotiations was received on Friday night.

He quoted the letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are addressing a US tariff of 19% – could resume once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.

“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, the US leader suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in calls 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 last autumn, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the world he says should win him the prestigious peace award.

The most severe clashes in a ten years between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and 300,000 displaced.

Longstanding Border Dispute

Thailand and Cambodia have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to conflicts regarding colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are disputed by each nation.

Reuters provided input for this coverage.