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Washington has exerted influence on Thailand to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, stating that trade negotiations could be paused as attempts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from collapsing.

Rising Border Hostilities

In recent days, Thailand declared it was suspending the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who lost a foot in the blast.

Since then, a fatality occurred and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a new round of retaliatory clashes.

US Trade Pressure

Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office informed reporters that a letter from the U.S. trade office announcing the suspension of trade deal talks was obtained on the previous evening.

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

“Tariff negotiations will continue and remain separate from border issues,” said a different official representative.

President’s Economic Warning

Speaking to the press aboard the presidential plane as he flew to Florida on the end of the week, Trump suggested that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in calls with the ASEAN nation heads.

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

Truce Deal Origins

Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, held in Malaysia this last autumn, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the world he claims should win him the Nobel Peace prize.

The worst fighting in a decade between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in July, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks causing numerous fatalities and 300,000 displaced.

Historic Frontier Conflict

The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that originates from conflicts regarding colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Historic shrines along the frontier are disputed by each nation.

Reuters contributed to this report.