Cambodia and Thailand decide to “cease all shooting”: Trump claims to have mediated the border dispute with a single phone call
Cambodia and Thailand decide to “cease all shooting”: The prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia agreed to “cease all shooting” and return to the peace agreement he had previously mediated, according to US President Donald Trump, who claimed he had a “very good conversation” with them on Friday.
Trump revealed the development on Truth Social, claiming to have held conversations with Prime Ministers Hun Manet of Cambodia and Anutin Charnvirakul of Thailand. According to him, both parties have decided to “CEASE all shooting” and go back to the conditions of the October peace talks, which were backed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The escalation, according to Trump, is “a very unfortunate reawakening of their long-running war,” and both countries are still eager to reestablish commercial relations and peace with the US.
Report on New Shelling According to Cambodian media, there was fresh Thai shelling early on Friday in a number of areas, including Ta Moan, Ta Kra Bei, and Thmar Daun in the province of Oddar Meanchey. Although no more deaths were verified, the Khmer Times reported that more gunfire was heard in Preah Vihear and Banteay Meanchey.
Since violence erupted on Monday, at least 20 people have died and almost 200 have been injured in both nations. Up to 600,000 individuals have been displaced; many of them are seeking safety in improvised camps on both sides of the border. The Thai military had previously reported that one more soldier had been killed in action, bringing the total number of deaths to ten. The employment of several drones in the most recent conflicts was also reported by Thai media, although Cambodia dismissed as “fake propaganda” reports that it had sent out foreign mercenaries to fly suicide drones.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs urged all parties to protect the ancient Hindu site on Friday, expressing grave worry about damage to conservation facilities at the UNESCO-listed Preah Vihear temple. The MEA called for a quick de-escalation and called any damage to the facility “unfortunate.”
Thailand’s Political Unrest
Ancient temples like Preah Vihear and Prasat Ta Muen Thom have long been at the center of the boundary controversy, which dates back to a 1907 map created by French colonial officials. Even though the International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear was a part of Cambodia and upheld similar decisions in 2013 after more petitions were filed in 2011, military conflicts have continued to occur, especially after Cambodia was granted UNESCO World Heritage status for the temple in 2008.
Thailand’s internal political unrest coincided with the resumption of hostilities. On Thursday, Prime Minister Anutin dissolved the legislature, paving the path for elections in 45 to 60 days. His administration claimed that important decisions had been delayed by a parliamentary impasse, but officials maintained that the political shift would not have an impact on how the border issue was handled.
The focus now shifts to whether the declared stop in fire can last and if both parties resume official discussions aimed at resolving one of Southeast Asia’s most enduring border conflicts, while regional and international partners urge moderation.