SURIN – Thailand and Cambodia on Sunday signaled their readiness to barter an finish to a lethal border dispute following mediation efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump. The fighting, now in its fourth day, has killed no less than 33 folks and displaced greater than 168,000.
Trump posted on Reality Social on Saturday that he spoke to the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia and instructed he wouldn’t transfer ahead with commerce agreements with both nation if the hostilities continued. He later stated either side agreed to satisfy to barter a ceasefire.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet stated Sunday his nation agreed to pursue an “rapid and unconditional ceasefire.” He stated Trump informed him that Thailand had additionally agreed to halt assaults following Trump’s dialog with Appearing Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.
“That is constructive information for the troopers and folks of each nations,” Hun Manet stated in a press release.
He stated he tasked his deputy, Overseas Minister Prak Sokhonn, to coordinate subsequent steps with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and to interact immediately with Thailand’s international minister to implement the ceasefire.
Thailand expressed cautious assist. Phumtham thanked Trump and stated that Thailand agreed in precept to a ceasefire however burdened the necessity for “honest intention” from Cambodia, the Thai Overseas Ministry stated. Phumtam referred to as for swift bilateral talks to debate concrete steps towards a peaceable decision, it stated.
The fighting first flared Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded 5 Thai troopers. Each side blamed one another for beginning the clashes. Each nations recalled their ambassadors and Thailand closed its border crossings with Cambodia.
Regardless of the diplomatic efforts, combating continued Sunday alongside components of the contested border, with either side buying and selling blame over renewed shelling and troop actions.
Col. Richa Suksowanont, a Thai military deputy spokesperson, stated Cambodian forces fired the primary pictures into Thai territory, together with at civilian properties early Sunday. He stated Cambodia additionally launched rocket assaults focusing on the traditional Ta Muen Thom temple claimed by each nations, and different areas in a bid to reclaim territory secured by Thai troops.
He stated Thai forces responded with long-range artillery to strike Cambodian artillery and rocket launchers.
Richa stated Trump’s efforts to mediate was a “separate matter.” The battlefield operations will proceed and a ceasefire can solely occur if Cambodia formally initiates negotiations, he added.
Cambodian Protection Ministry spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata accused Thai forces of escalating the violence and rising their use of cluster bombs — weapons which are banned underneath worldwide regulation. She stated Sunday that Thai troops had carried out each focused and indiscriminate assaults, leading to lack of life and destruction of civilian infrastructure.
Thailand has reported 20 deaths, principally civilians, whereas Cambodia stated 13 folks have been killed. Greater than 131,000 folks in Thailand have evacuated to protected places and over 37,000 folks fled from three Cambodian provinces. Many border villages are principally abandoned, with many colleges and hospitals shut.
The U.N. Safety Council has referred to as on the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations, a regional bloc, to mediate peace between the 2 members. Human Rights Watch has condemned the reported use of cluster munitions in populated areas, and urged each governments to guard civilians.
The 800-kilometer (500-mile) frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for many years, however previous confrontations have been restricted and temporary. The most recent tensions flared in Might when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailand’s domestic politics.
_________
Related Press writers Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul and Grant Peck in Bangkok, and Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report. Sopheng Cheang reported from Samrong, Cambodia.
Copyright 2025 The Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials will not be revealed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.
