U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to immediate talks aimed at securing a ceasefire and ultimately peace, following days of deadly border clashes that have claimed at least 33 lives. The diplomatic breakthrough comes as tensions escalated along the disputed 500-mile frontier, displacing thousands of civilians. Trump, speaking from his golf resort in Scotland, engaged directly with the leaders of both nations to facilitate the agreement.
President Trump stated on social media that both countries
"have agreed to immediately meet and quickly work out a Ceasefire and, ultimately, PEACE!" He emphasized the role of future trade agreements as leverage, asserting, "When all is done, and Peace is at hand, I look forward to concluding our Trading Agreements with both!" This conditional approach highlights the administration's intent to withhold trade deals until the conflict ceases.
The recent escalation, which has persisted for three days, saw both sides accuse each other of provocation, leading to significant casualties among soldiers and civilians. Reports indicate that over 131,000 people in Thailand and 35,000 in Cambodia have been evacuated from their homes near the border. The ongoing dispute has reignited hostilities between Thailand, a U.S. ally, and China-aligned Cambodian forces.
Thailand's acting Prime Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, confirmed the agreement in principle but expressed a desire to see
"the sincerity of the Cambodian side in this matter." The United Nations Security Council and the ASEAN regional bloc have also called for de-escalation and mediation efforts. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, chair of ASEAN, has been actively pushing a ceasefire proposal, which Cambodia has backed.
Both Cambodia and Thailand are currently negotiating trade deals with the United States and face the prospect of a 36% US tariff if agreements are not reached. Trump explicitly warned that the U.S. would not make trade deals while fighting continues, aiming to incentivize a lasting resolution. The president expressed hope that the nations, with their
"long and storied History and Culture," will "get along for many years to come."