Phnom Penh: On Saturday, President Trump announced that both Cambodia and Thailand are seeking immediate ceasefire talks as conflict between the two nations has escalated into a third day of deadly fighting.
According to Deutsche Welle, Trump mentioned that he had discussions with Cambodian leader Hun Manet and Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai in an effort to resolve the ongoing conflict. Trump expressed optimism about the situation, stating on social media during his visit to Scotland that “Ceasefire, Peace, and Prosperity seems to be a natural. We will soon see!”
Officials from both Thailand and Cambodia have yet to confirm any plans for a meeting to discuss a ceasefire. Earlier, Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa conveyed that Thailand has tentatively agreed to ASEAN’s proposal for a ceasefire but stressed that Cambodia must first cease hostilities and demonstrate genuine intent for dialogue. Maris urged Cambodia to respect Thai sovereignty and return to resolving the issue through bilateral discussions.
The situation follows an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting held in New York. Post-meeting, Cambodia’s UN ambassador, Chhea Keo, reiterated the country’s call for an unconditional immediate ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the dispute.
Hostilities between the two nations reignited on Thursday, with both sides accusing each other of instigating the conflict. The recent clashes have resulted in at least 33 fatalities and displaced over 130,000 individuals, marking the most severe fighting between these Southeast Asian countries in 13 years.
The long-standing conflict is deeply rooted in territorial disputes over undemarcated points along their shared 800-kilometer land border. A significant point of contention is the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple. Despite the International Court of Justice ruling in 1962 that the temple belongs to Cambodia, Thailand has not accepted the court’s jurisdiction and prefers resolving the issue bilaterally. Tensions have been high since 2008 when Cambodia sought UNESCO World Heritage status for the temple, leading to several military confrontations and subsequent court rulings in favor of Cambodia.
The conflict intensified again this year following a brief skirmish in late May, which resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier.