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The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a ceasefire agreement with the Cambodian side, stating that trade talks could be halted as attempts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated ceasefire arrangement from collapsing.

Rising Border Hostilities

In recent days, Thai officials declared it was putting on hold the ceasefire deal, alleging Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the shared border, including one that reportedly wounded a Thai military personnel on duty, who lost a foot in the explosion.

Following this, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by gunfire along the border between the two nations, raising concerns of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.

American Economic Leverage

Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a official communication from the U.S. trade office announcing the pause in trade negotiations was received on Friday night.

The spokesperson referenced the document as saying that trade negotiations – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could restart once Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.

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

President’s Economic Warning

Addressing reporters on Air Force One as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, Trump implied that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in calls with the ASEAN nation heads.

He stated, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” adding, “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 earn him the Nobel Peace prize.

The most severe clashes in a decade between military forces of both nations erupted in July, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks 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 created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the frontier are claimed by both sides.

Reuters provided input for this coverage.