In a recent development, former U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that he played a pivotal role in de-escalating hostilities between Cambodia and Thailand. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump declared, ‘I stopped a war just today.’ He attributed this achievement to his strategic use of economic leverage, including the threat of imposing steep tariffs, which he believes enhances U.S. diplomatic influence. Trump revealed that he had engaged in phone conversations with the prime ministers of both nations, stating, ‘They’re doing great. They were not doing great,’ and expressed confidence that the situation would stabilize. The conflict, which erupted in late July over territorial disputes along the border, resulted in significant casualties, including dozens of soldiers and civilians. Trump’s intervention reportedly led to a temporary ceasefire, which was further solidified during an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Malaysia last month. However, tensions flared again recently when Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet reported that a villager was killed in a border skirmish. The Thai military countered by alleging that Cambodian soldiers initiated the violence. The historical enmity between the two nations, rooted in centuries-old territorial claims, remains unresolved, with the ceasefire failing to address the underlying border disputes.
Trump says he ‘stopped a war’ by preserving a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand
