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The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to reaffirm its dedication to a truce deal with Cambodia, warning that trade talks could be paused as attempts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from falling apart.

Border Tensions Escalate

Earlier this week, Thai officials declared it was putting on hold the truce agreement, alleging Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, among them an incident that reportedly wounded a Thai military personnel on duty, who lost a foot in the blast.

Since then, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by gunfire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a fresh wave of tit-for-tat fighting.

American Economic Leverage

Over the weekend, a representative from Thailand's foreign office told journalists that a letter from the Office of the US Trade Representative declaring the pause in trade negotiations was obtained on the previous evening.

He quoted the letter as saying that discussions on trade – which are focusing on a 19 percent American duty – could resume once the Thai government reaffirmed its commitment 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

Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, the US leader implied that he had employed tariff warnings in discussions with the ASEAN nation heads.

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 last autumn, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he claims should win him the prestigious peace award.

The worst fighting in a decade between military forces of both nations broke out in mid-summer, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.

Longstanding Border Dispute

The two neighboring countries have a longstanding border dispute that dates back to conflicts regarding colonial-era maps drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the frontier are disputed by each nation.

Reuters provided input for this coverage.