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Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to recommit to a truce deal with Cambodia, indicating that trade negotiations could be paused as efforts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from falling apart.

Border Tensions Escalate

Earlier this week, Thai officials announced it was putting on hold the truce agreement, alleging Cambodia of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that allegedly wounded a Thai military personnel on patrol, who lost a foot in the explosion.

Since then, one person has been killed and multiple individuals injured by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a fresh wave of retaliatory clashes.

American Economic Leverage

Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a official communication 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 trade negotiations – which are addressing a 19 percent American duty – could restart once Thailand renewed its pledge to carrying out the mutual truce agreement.

“Trade talks are ongoing and distinct from frontier matters,” said a different official representative.

Trump’s Tariff Threat

Speaking to the press on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, Trump implied that he had used the “threat of tariffs” in calls with the south-east Asian leaders.

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

The President witnessed the finalization 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 earn him the Nobel Peace prize.

The most severe clashes in a decade between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out in mid-summer, with exchanges of fire, shelling and aerial attacks causing numerous fatalities and 300,000 displaced.

Longstanding Border Dispute

The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to disagreements over colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Historic shrines along the frontier are disputed by each nation.

International news agency provided input for this coverage.