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The United States has applied pressure on Thailand to recommit to a ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, stating that trade negotiations could be suspended as efforts are made to prevent a Trump-mediated peace agreement from falling apart.

Border Tensions Escalate

In recent days, Thai officials announced it was suspending the ceasefire deal, accusing Cambodian forces of planting new explosives along the shared border, including one that reportedly injured a Thai military personnel on duty, who suffered a foot amputation in the explosion.

Since then, a fatality occurred and several others wounded by exchanges of fire along the Thai-Cambodia frontier, sparking fears of a new round of retaliatory clashes.

American Economic Leverage

Over the weekend, a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson informed reporters that a letter from the U.S. trade office announcing the pause in trade negotiations was received on the previous evening.

He quoted the letter as stating that trade negotiations – which are focusing on a US tariff of 19% – could resume once the Thai government renewed its pledge to implementing the joint ceasefire declaration.

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

President’s Economic Warning

Speaking to the press on Air Force One as he traveled to the Sunshine State on the end of the week, Trump implied that he had employed tariff warnings in discussions 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, conducted in Malaysian territory this October, and has promoted it as one of several deals around the world he says should win him the Nobel Peace prize.

The most severe clashes in a ten years between military forces of both nations erupted in July, with gunfire, artillery and airstrikes leaving dozens of people killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee.

Historic Frontier Conflict

Thailand and Cambodia have a historic territorial disagreement that originates from conflicts regarding colonial-era maps created by French cartographers. Ancient temples along the border are claimed by both sides.

International news agency provided input for this coverage.