US President Claims Ceasefire Agreed After Phone Calls with Both Prime Ministers
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.