U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned on Saturday that the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand had agreed to fulfill instantly to rapidly work out a ceasefire, as he sought to dealer peace after three days of fighting along their border.
Thailand’s performing Prime Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, thanked Trump and mentioned Thailand “agrees in precept to have a ceasefire in place” however “want to see honest intention from the Cambodian facet.” Mr. Phumtham was responding in a Fb put up to a collection of social media posts by Trump throughout a go to to Scotland. Trump mentioned he had spoken to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Mr. Phumtham and warned them that he wouldn’t make commerce offers with both if the border battle continued.
“Each Events are on the lookout for a direct Ceasefire and Peace,” Mr. Trump wrote as he gave a blow-by-blow account of his diplomatic efforts.
Mr. Phumtham additionally mentioned he had requested Mr. Trump “to convey to the Cambodian facet that Thailand desires to convene a bilateral dialogue as quickly as attainable to carry forth measures and procedures for the ceasefire and the eventual peaceable decision of the battle.” Greater than 30 individuals have been killed and greater than 130,000 individuals displaced within the worst preventing between the Southeast Asian neighbours in 13 years.
Earlier than Mr. Trump spoke to the 2 leaders, clashes on the Thai-Cambodian border endured into a 3rd day and new flashpoints emerged as either side mentioned they’d acted in self-defense within the border dispute and known as on the opposite to stop preventing and begin negotiations.
There have been clashes early on Saturday, either side mentioned, within the neighbouring Thai coastal province of Trat and Cambodia’s Pursat Province, a brand new entrance greater than 100 km (60 miles) from different battle factors alongside the long-contested border.
The international locations have confronted off for the reason that killing of a Cambodian soldier late in Could throughout a quick skirmish. Troops on either side of the border have been bolstered amid a full-blown diplomatic disaster that introduced Thailand’s fragile coalition authorities to the brink of collapse.
As of Saturday, Thailand mentioned seven troopers and 13 civilians had been killed, whereas Cambodia mentioned 5 troopers and eight civilians had been killed.
Mr. Trump’s direct involvement on Saturday adopted U.S. requires restraint on either side. He mentioned he spoke to every chief and relayed messages forwards and backwards. “They’ve agreed to instantly meet and rapidly work out a Ceasefire and, finally, PEACE!,” Trump wrote, saying each international locations needed to get again to the “Buying and selling Desk.” He has sought to achieve separate offers with dozens of nations in response to his announcement of wide-ranging tariffs on imports to the U.S.
“When all is finished, and Peace is at hand, I stay up for concluding our Buying and selling Agreements with each!” Mr. Trump mentioned.
He supplied no particulars on the ceasefire negotiations he mentioned Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to carry.
The White Home didn’t instantly reply to questions on the timing and venue for talks and the Thai and Cambodian embassies in Washington additionally didn’t instantly reply. In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, mentioned he would proceed to push a ceasefire proposal. Cambodia has backed Anwar’s plan, whereas Thailand has mentioned it agreed with it in precept.
“There’s nonetheless some alternate of fireside,” Anwar mentioned, based on state information company Bernama. He mentioned he had requested his overseas minister “to liaise with the respective overseas ministries and, if attainable, I’ll proceed participating with them myself – at the least to halt the preventing”.
Safety Council assembly
Thailand’s Ambassador to the United Nations advised a Safety Council assembly on Friday that troopers had been injured by newly planted land mines in Thai territory on two events since mid-July – claims Cambodia has strongly denied – and mentioned Cambodia had then launched assaults on Thursday morning.
“Thailand urges Cambodia to instantly stop all hostilities and acts of aggression, and resume dialogue in good religion,” Cherdchai Chaivaivid advised the council in remarks launched to media.
In a press release on Saturday, Cambodia’s protection ministry mentioned Thailand had launched “a deliberate, unprovoked, and illegal army assault” and was mobilizing troops and army tools on the border.
“These deliberate army preparations reveal Thailand’s intent to increase its aggression and additional violate Cambodia’s sovereignty,” it mentioned.
Cambodia known as for the worldwide neighborhood to “condemn Thailand’s aggression within the strongest phrases” and to stop an growth of its army actions, whereas Bangkok reiterated it needed to resolve the dispute bilaterally.
Thailand and Cambodia have bickered for many years over jurisdiction of varied undemarcated factors alongside their 817-km (508-mile) land border, with possession of the traditional Hindu temples Ta Moan Thom and the eleventh century Preah Vihear central to the disputes.
Preah Vihear was awarded to Cambodia by the Worldwide Court docket of Justice in 1962, however pressure escalated in 2008 after Cambodia tried to record it as a UNESCO World Heritage web site.
That led to skirmishes over a number of years and at the least a dozen deaths.
Cambodia in June mentioned it had requested the courtroom to resolve its disputes with Thailand, which says it has by no means acknowledged the courtroom’s jurisdiction and prefers a bilateral method.
Revealed – July 27, 2025 04:35 am IST
