In a significant diplomatic development, former U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that Thailand and Cambodia will implement an immediate ceasefire following days of intense border conflicts. The announcement came after Trump engaged in separate telephone discussions with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.
The border dispute between the Southeast Asian neighbors escalated dramatically on July 24 when Cambodian forces launched rocket barrages into Thai territory, prompting retaliatory airstrikes from Thailand. The recent surge in violence has resulted in at least 20 casualties and displaced approximately half a million people from border communities.
Through his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that both leaders ‘have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me.’ He further emphasized that ‘Both Countries are ready for PEACE and continued Trade with the United States of America.’
However, the Thai Prime Minister presented a more conditional stance during a news conference, indicating that a ceasefire would only materialize if ‘Cambodia will cease fire, withdraw its troops, remove all landmines it has planted.’ As of the announcement, neither Southeast Asian leader had publicly confirmed the agreement.
The current conflict represents the latest eruption in a century-long territorial dispute along the 800-kilometer border between the two nations, with boundaries originally established during the French colonial occupation of Cambodia. This week’s fighting expanded across at least six provinces in northeastern Thailand and five provinces in northern and northwestern Cambodia, marking the most significant escalation in recent years.
This marks the second ceasefire attempt brokered by Trump in collaboration with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, following an earlier ‘immediate and unconditional ceasefire’ agreement that ultimately failed to maintain stability in the region.