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The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, stating that trade talks could be halted as efforts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered ceasefire arrangement from collapsing.

Rising Border Hostilities

In recent days, Thailand declared it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the shared border, including one that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel 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 informed reporters that a letter from the U.S. trade office announcing the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on Friday night.

The spokesperson referenced the letter as stating that discussions on trade – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could restart once the Thai government renewed its pledge to implementing the mutual truce agreement.

“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” said another government spokesperson.

Trump’s Tariff Threat

Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on Friday, Trump suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in discussions with the south-east Asian leaders.

The US president said, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” adding, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”

Ceasefire Agreement Background

The President witnessed the finalization of a ceasefire agreement, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has touted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he claims should win him the prestigious peace award.

The worst fighting in a ten years between military forces of both nations erupted in July, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.

Historic Frontier Conflict

Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are claimed by both sides.

Reuters provided input for this coverage.