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Washington has exerted influence on the Thai administration to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, stating that trade talks could be paused as efforts are made to stop a Donald Trump-brokered peace agreement from falling apart.

Rising Border Hostilities

Earlier this week, Thailand declared it was suspending the truce agreement, alleging Cambodian forces of laying fresh landmines along the shared border, including one that allegedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who lost a foot in the explosion.

Since then, one person has been killed and several others wounded by gunfire along the border between the two nations, sparking fears of a new round of retaliatory clashes.

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 received on the previous evening.

The spokesperson referenced the document as stating 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,” stated a different official representative.

Trump’s Tariff Threat

Addressing reporters aboard the presidential plane as he traveled to the Sunshine State on Friday, Trump suggested that he had employed tariff warnings in discussions with the south-east Asian leaders.

He stated, “Today, I prevented a conflict using tariffs, the menace of duties,” adding, “they are performing well. I believe they will be okay.”

Ceasefire Agreement Background

The President witnessed the finalization of a peace deal, held in Malaysia this October, and has promoted it as one of multiple agreements around the globe he claims should earn him the Nobel Peace prize.

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

Longstanding Border Dispute

The two neighboring countries have a historic territorial disagreement that dates back to conflicts regarding maps from the colonial period drawn up by the French. Ancient temples along the border are claimed by both sides.

Reuters contributed to this report.