Fighting has resumed along the Thai-Cambodia border less than two months after a ceasefire brokered by the United States collapsed, prompting President Donald Trump to say he will intervene.
Renewed Hostilities in Southeast Asia
Speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump highlighted what he described as his success in global peacemaking, claiming to have “ended eight wars” in ten months, including conflicts between Kosovo and Serbia, Pakistan and India, and Israel and Iran.
Trump indicated he would again attempt to calm tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. “I hate to say this one, named Cambodia-Thailand, and it started up today and tomorrow I’ll have to make a phone call,” he said. “Who else could say, ‘I’m going to make a phone call and stop a war of two very powerful countries, Thailand and Cambodia.’ They’re going at it again.”
Fatal clashes escalated this week, with both sides blaming each other for the fighting and vowing to defend their territories. More than 500,000 people have fled their homes in Thailand and Cambodia since the conflict reignited.
Both Thailand and Cambodia have accused each other of violating the US-backed ceasefire deal signed in July during a visit by Trump. Tensions increased in November when Thailand suspended de-escalation measures after a Thai soldier was injured by a landmine, which Bangkok claims was newly laid by Cambodia – a claim Cambodia denies.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated Tuesday that Cambodia had not contacted Thailand regarding possible negotiations and that fighting would continue. “We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do,” he said. “The government will support all kinds of military operations as planned earlier.”
Cambodia’s senate president and former prime minister Hun Sen stated via Facebook and Telegram that his country refrained from retaliating Monday but began firing back at Thai forces overnight. “Cambodia wants peace, but Cambodia is forced to fight back to defend its territory,” Hun Sen wrote.
As of Tuesday night, Cambodia’s defence ministry reported nine civilian deaths and 20 serious injuries since Monday. Thai officials reported four soldier deaths and 68 injuries.
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