“They have agreed to cease all shooting effective this evening.” That was U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday, announcing on Truth Social that Thailand and Cambodia would stop fighting and go back to the peace accord he helped broker.
Trump said the result came out of a “very good conversation” with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. He credited Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim with helping on the original deal, and said “both countries are ready for peace and continued trade with the United States of America.”
The fighting had been bad. Officials and local media put the death toll at 23 since Monday, with around 700,000 people displaced on both sides of the border.
The two countries signed a peace deal in Kuala Lumpur in October, with Trump and Anwar in the room. It was suspended after Thai soldiers were seriously hurt in a landmine explosion in a border province. Trump described the earlier blast differently, calling it a roadside bomb that killed and wounded numerous Thai soldiers. It was “an accident,” he said, “but Thailand nevertheless retaliated very strongly.”
The neighbours have a long-running border dispute and a record of repeat clashes. In July, at least 48 people died.
Anwar, who chairs ASEAN for 2025, said in a Facebook statement that he had discussed the conflict with Trump, along with bilateral relations and other global issues. Kuala Lumpur, he said, is ready to “support efforts to de-escalate the situation, protect civilians, and help restore regional stability.”
