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The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with the Cambodian side, stating that trade negotiations could be halted as attempts are made to prevent a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from collapsing.

Border Tensions Escalate

Earlier this week, Thailand declared it was suspending the truce agreement, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the mutual frontier, including one that reportedly 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 official communication from the Office of the US Trade Representative announcing the pause in trade negotiations was received on Friday night.

He quoted the letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could restart once the Thai government renewed its pledge to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.

“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” stated another government spokesperson.

President’s Economic Warning

Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on Friday, the US leader suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in calls with the south-east Asian leaders.

He stated, “I stopped a war just today through the use of tariffs, the threat of tariffs,” continuing, “they’re doing great. I think they’re gonna be fine.”

Ceasefire Agreement Background

The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, conducted in Malaysian territory this last autumn, and has touted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he says should win him the Nobel Peace prize.

The worst fighting in a ten years between military forces of both nations broke out in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes causing numerous fatalities and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.

Historic Frontier Conflict

The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from disagreements over maps from the colonial period created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the frontier are claimed by both sides.

International news agency provided input for this coverage.