The White House Steps In
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”โmeaning he will find out who is responsibleโif 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 Trumpโs 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:
| Country | Leader’s Response | Status of Ceasefire |
| Cambodia | Prime Minister Hun Manet welcomed and supported the call for a ceasefire. | Ready to cooperate. |
| Thailand | Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul decided to continue military operations against Cambodia, stating his forces would not stop until threats to Thai territory ended. | Actively rejecting the immediate ceasefire and continuing the conflict. |
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.