Fierce clashes persisted on Saturday morning at the Thailand-Cambodia border despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s intervention as a mediator, claiming to have secured a new ceasefire agreement from both nations. Thai officials refuted agreeing to a ceasefire, while Cambodia remained silent on Trump’s statement but reported Thai jets conducting airstrikes on Saturday.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow expressed disagreement with some of Trump’s statements, emphasizing that Trump’s depiction of a landmine explosion injuring Thai soldiers as a mere “roadside accident” was inaccurate. Sihasak criticized Trump for potentially relying on biased sources and not acknowledging Thailand as the oldest treaty ally of the United States in the region.
The recent escalation of conflict stemmed from a skirmish on December 7, which resulted in injuries to two Thai soldiers and disrupted a previous ceasefire brokered by Trump in July. The July ceasefire, enforced under pressure from Trump with the threat of trade sanctions, was formalized in October during a regional meeting in Malaysia attended by Trump.
The ongoing fighting has claimed over two dozen lives on both sides of the border, with more than half a million individuals displaced. The Thai military confirmed 15 casualties among its troops, while estimated Cambodian military fatalities stand at 165. Cambodia reported 11 civilian deaths and numerous injuries.
Following discussions with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Trump announced an agreement to reinstate the ceasefire. However, both Thailand and Cambodia denied reaching a ceasefire, with Anutin even dissolving parliament on Friday to pave the way for early elections next year.
Leaders of both nations engaged in talks with Trump and Malaysia’s Prime Minister, expressing willingness to cooperate for long-lasting peace. Cambodia endorsed a peace initiative involving monitoring by Malaysia and the U.S., but Thailand denied being in negotiations over the proposal.
The conflict has seen Thailand targeting military sites with airstrikes, while Cambodia has launched BM-21 rockets causing destruction but minimal casualties. The rockets, with a range of 30-40 kilometers, lack precision targeting and have mostly landed in evacuated areas. However, Thai authorities reported civilian injuries in Sisaket province due to rocket strikes, with naval engagements reported in the Gulf of Thailand.