On Saturday, a spokesperson for the White House confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump is closely watching the conflict between Cambodia and Thailand. President Trump expressed a strong hope that all countries involved will keep their promise to stop fighting.

Crucially, the White House issued a clear warning: President Trump stated he would “seek accountability”—meaning he will find out who is responsible—if the fighting does not stop and a lasting peace cannot be secured. This information was reported by Reuters news agency.

The Ceasefire Claim and Conflicting Responses

The situation became confusing after President Trump’s announcement on Friday:

• Trump’s Announcement: President Trump had earlier claimed he spoke with both Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and that both leaders agreed to an immediate halt to the fighting.
• Malaysia’s Push: Adding to the diplomatic pressure, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also urged both nations on Saturday to accept a ceasefire starting that night at 10:00 PM.

However, the actions of the leaders revealed a split:

Despite President Trump’s announcement and Malaysia’s mediation efforts, the Thai Prime Minister’s decision to continue military action shows that the declared ceasefire has not been accepted or put into effect by both sides.

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WASHINGTON D.C. / PHNOM PENH – US President Donald Trump has announced that the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to halt their deadly border fighting, effective tonight.

Trump made the announcement after speaking by phone with both Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, following recent clashes that have killed at least 20 people and displaced half a million civilians.

I. The Claimed Ceasefire and Conditions

Neither the Thai nor the Cambodian Prime Minister has publicly confirmed the immediate halt, but President Trump shared the agreement on his social media platform, Truth Social:

“Both leaders have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me. Both Countries are ready for PEACE and continued Trade with the United States of America.”

However, earlier today, Thai PM Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters that a ceasefire would only happen if Cambodia met specific conditions: “Cambodia will cease fire, withdraw its troops, remove all landmines it has planted.” This suggests the situation remains tense despite the US announcement.

II. A Long and Deadly Dispute

The border dispute between the two Southeast Asian neighbours is more than a century old, dating back to when the borders were first drawn after the French occupation of Cambodia.

• Escalation: The recent violence escalated dramatically on July 24, when Cambodia launched rockets into Thailand, which responded with air strikes.
• Previous Truce: Days later, they agreed to an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire,” which was brokered by President Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
• Renewed Violence: Tensions have since rebuilt, and the violence this week expanded, affecting at least six provinces in north-eastern Thailand and five provinces in Cambodia’s north and north-west.

The international community is now waiting for confirmation from the Thai and Cambodian governments regarding the immediate halt to the fighting.

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PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS) announced this afternoon (December 10, 2025) the temporary suspension of all teaching and learning activities in schools across four districts in Battambang province: Samlot, Kamrieng, Sampov Loun, and Phnom Preuk.

I. Reason for Suspension: Safety and Security

MoEYS stated that the postponement is strictly due to security concerns arising from the Thai military’s invasion of Cambodian territory.

• Effective Date: The suspension is effective immediately, starting December 10, 2025, and will remain in place until further notice.
• Goal: The primary aim is to ensure the safety of teachers, school staff, and students, and to prevent any harm caused by Thai artillery shelling into Cambodian territory.

II. Nationwide Educational Impact

The closure in Battambang adds to a growing number of schools affected by the renewed violence.

According to the Ministry, as of this morning, a total of 635 schools across six provinces bordering Thailand have been temporarily closed. This affects:

• 163,528 Students
• 5,441 Teachers

The affected provinces are Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Pursat, Koh Kong, and now Battambang.

III. Conflict Escalation and Civilian Toll

The Ministry highlighted the severe nature of the ongoing conflict:

Since December 7, the Thai military has intensified attacks on Cambodian territory, expanding operations across multiple locations in five provinces. These operations involve the use of heavy weapons, F-16 fighter jets, and toxic gas.

This aggression has tragically resulted in civilian casualties, extensive damage to homes, temples, and health centres, and the displacement of thousands of civilians. Cambodia stated it had no choice but to counterattack in self-defence against military operations that violate its territorial integrity, following more than 24 hours of extreme restraint.

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Sports and Delegation Size

Cambodia is preparing to send participants in 21 sports to the biennial regional event, in line with the spirit of sportsmanship and the International Olympic Movement.

The 21 sports include: Athletics, Swimming, Equestrian, Fencing, Gymnastics, Judo, Taekwondo WT, Triathlon, Volleyball, Football, Wrestling, Pencak Silat, Kickboxing, Petanque, Sepak Takraw, Jet Ski, Karate, Ju-Jitsu, Wushu, Table Football, and Esports.

The total number of people in the delegation, including officials, coaches, and athletes, is 333.

Principles of Sports Diplomacy

Mr. Vath Chamroeun, Secretary-General of the NOCC, emphasized that Cambodia’s participation in the 2025 SEA Games comes with special assurance and support from host nation Thailand. All Cambodian sports delegates will stay together in one hotel in Bangkok.

He reiterated the principles of the Olympic Movement, which are non-discriminatory. He noted that sports competitions are not a platform for politics but are technical contests that foster peace and harmony.

Mr. Chamroeun expressed optimism, stating: “This participation will pave the way for better sports diplomacy by adhering effectively to international sports principles and the Olympic Charter. This can be a good sign for creating harmony and fellowship with all nations and people in the ASEAN region.”

Historical Success

It is worth recalling that during the 2023 SEA Games, which Cambodia successfully hosted, the nation finished in 4th place, achieving a historic high of 282 medals (81 Gold, 74 Silver, and 127 Bronze). This magnificent, historic success continues to receive high praise from countries around the world.

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