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The United States has applied pressure on the Thai administration to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with Cambodia, stating that trade talks could be paused as efforts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated ceasefire arrangement from falling apart.

Rising Border Hostilities

In recent days, Thai officials announced it was putting on hold the truce agreement, alleging Cambodia of planting new explosives along the shared border, including one that allegedly wounded a Thai military personnel on duty, who lost a foot in the explosion.

Since then, a fatality occurred 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 representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on the previous evening.

The spokesperson referenced the document as saying that discussions on trade – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could resume once Thailand renewed its pledge 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 aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, the US leader suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in calls with the south-east Asian leaders.

The US president said, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” adding, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”

Truce Deal Origins

Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire agreement, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has touted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he claims should earn him the prestigious peace award.

The most severe clashes in a decade between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and 300,000 displaced.

Historic Frontier Conflict

Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to conflicts regarding colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the border are claimed by both sides.

Reuters contributed to this report.