Former U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that the Prime Ministers of Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to halt hostilities “effective this evening.”
Trump’s announcement followed telephone conversations with both leaders in the wake of recent deadly border clashes that have reportedly resulted in at least 20 fatalities and the displacement of half a million people.
As of yet, neither Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul nor Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet have issued a public statement.
However, following his call with Trump, Charnvirakul indicated at a news conference that a ceasefire would only be possible if “Cambodia will cease fire, withdraw its troops, remove all landmines it has planted”.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump asserted 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 stated that “Both Countries are ready for PEACE and continued Trade with the United States of America.”
The long-standing border dispute escalated on July 24th, with reports of Cambodia launching rockets into Thailand, prompting retaliatory air strikes.
After intense fighting and numerous casualties, the two Southeast Asian nations purportedly agreed to an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” brokered by Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Despite this agreement, tensions have persisted.
Recent violence has expanded, affecting at least six provinces in northeastern Thailand and five provinces in northern and northwestern Cambodia.
The two countries have contested territorial sovereignty along their 800km border for over a century, stemming from the borders drawn after the French occupation of Cambodia.