U.S. President Donald Trump announced Cambodia and Thailand agreed to "immediately meet" for ceasefire talks after three days of intense border clashes killed at least 33 people and displaced over 168,000 civilians. The breakthrough followed Trump’s personal phone calls with Cambodian PM Hun Manet and Thai Acting PM Phumtham Wechayachai, during which he threatened to halt trade deals with both nations unless fighting stopped. Trump framed the crisis as reminiscent of "the Conflict between Pakistan and India," claiming his intervention simplified a "complex situation".
Trump explicitly linked ceasefire efforts to ongoing U.S. trade negotiations, declaring it "inappropriate" to deal with countries at war. Both Cambodia and Thailand face 36% U.S. tariffs set to take effect August 1 under Trump’s broad trade policy. In Truth Social posts from Scotland, Trump warned: "I will not want to make any Deal with either Country if they are fighting" but promised agreements once "Peace is at hand".
Fighting expanded to 12 border locations by Saturday, including new fronts in Thailand’s Trat province and Cambodia’s Pursat province. Cambodia reported 13 dead (8 civilians, 5 soldiers) and 71 wounded, while Thailand confirmed 20 fatalities (14 civilians, 6 soldiers)—surpassing the 28 deaths during 2008–2011 clashes. Shelling damaged hospitals, petrol stations, and a Buddhist pagoda where one Cambodian civilian died. Thailand accused Cambodia of using cluster munitions (banned internationally), while Cambodia denounced Thai airstrikes on civilian zones.
The violence stems from undemarcated colonial-era borders, particularly around the Preah Vihear Temple, awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962 and reaffirmed in 2013. Thailand rejects ICJ jurisdiction and insists on bilateral resolution. Tensions reignited in May when a Cambodian soldier died in a skirmish, followed by tit-for-tat border closures and import bans. Thailand’s Acting PM warned the conflict "could develop into war," echoing fears among evacuees who called it the "worst fighting since the 1980s".
Despite Trump’s announcement, critical hurdles remain. Thailand previously rejected ceasefire proposals from ASEAN chair Malaysia, demanding Cambodia halt attacks first. No timeline or location for talks was provided, and both nations blame each other for initiating clashes. The UN Security Council urged de-escalation but issued no binding resolution after emergency talks. With 138,000+ evacuated in Thailand and 35,000 displaced in Cambodia, aid groups warn of worsening humanitarian needs in monsoon-affected border regions.