‘Quickly work out’: Trump says Thailand and Cambodia agree to ceasefire talks

Donald Trump said the nations have agreed to “quickly work out” a ceasefire after border clashes have left over 30 people dead and 150,000 people displaced.

Donald Trump says Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to “quickly work out” a ceasefire after escalating border clashes between the two nations have left over 30 people dead and 150,000 people displaced.

In a post on Truth Social, the US President, who is currently visiting Scotland, said he had spoken over the phone with Cambodian leader Hun Manet and Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, with the two sides “looking for an immediate ceasefire and peace”.

“They are also looking to get back to the ‘Trading Table’ with the United States, which we think is inappropriate to do until such time as the fighting STOPS,” Mr Trump wrote.

“They have agreed to immediately meet and quickly work out a Ceasefire and, ultimately, PEACE!”

Mr Trump said Thailand and Cambodia are ‘looking for an immediate ceasefire and peace’. Picture: Anndrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP

Thailand’s foreign minister confirmed Mr Phumtham “agrees in principle to have a ceasefire in place,” in a statement on X.

However, it stressed that “Thailand would like to see sincere intention from the Cambodian side.”

The statement added Mr Phumtham requested Mr Trump to “convey to the Cambodian side that Thailand wants to convene a bilateral dialogue as soon as possible to bring forth measures and procedures for the ceasefire and the eventual peaceful resolution of the conflict.”

‘Tragic and unnecessary loss of lives’

A least 33 people have been killed after a long-running dispute over the nations’ shared 800-kilometre border erupted and fighting broke out between the southeast Asian neighbours on July 24.

Tensions initially flared over long-contested ancient temple sites before fighting spread along the rural border region, marked by a ridge of hills surrounded by wild jungle and agricultural land where locals farm rubber and rice.

Cambodia’s defence ministry said 13 people have been confirmed killed in the fighting, including eight civilians and five soldiers, with 71 people wounded.

Thai authorities say 13 civilians and seven soldiers have died on their side, taking the toll across both nations higher than it was in the last major round of fighting between 2008 and 2011.

Evacuees displaced by the ongoing conflict between Thailand and Cambodia rest at an evacuation centre in the Thai border province of Si Sa Ket on July 26. Picture: Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP

People who fled their homes near the border area between Cambodia and Thailand, taking shelter near a pagoda in Oddar Meanchey province on July 26. Picture: Suy Se / AFP

Hours before the announcement of ceasefire talks, clashes broke out in the countries’ coastal regions where they meet on the Gulf of Thailand, around 250 kilometres southwest of the main front lines, thumping with blasts on Saturday afternoon.

“It feels like I’m escaping a war zone,” 76-year-old Samlee Sornchai told AFP at a temple shelter for evacuees in the Thai town of Kanthararom, after abandoning his farm near the embattled frontier.

Royal Thai Army soldiers are transported on the back of an army truck in the Thai border province of Si Sa Ket on July 26. Picture: Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP

The conflict has forced more than 138,000 people to be evacuated from Thailand’s border regions, and more than 35,000 driven from their homes in Cambodia.

After an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting on Friday in New York, Cambodia’s UN ambassador Chhea Keo said his country wanted “an immediate ceasefire” and a peaceful solution of the dispute.

UN chief Antonio Guterres remained deeply concerned about the armed clashes and urged both sides on Saturday to “immediately agree to a ceasefire” and hold talks to find a lasting solution.

“The Secretary-General condemns the tragic and unnecessary loss of lives, injuries to civilians and the damage to homes and infrastructure on both sides,” his deputy spokesman, Farhan Haq said in a statement.

The Southeast Asian neighbours exchanged heavy artillery fire for a third straight day on Saturday. Picture: Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP

Scramble for dialogue

Both sides have blamed the other for firing first.

Additionally, Cambodia has accused Thai forces of using cluster munitions, while Thailand accused Cambodia of targeting civilian infrastructure, including a hospital hit by shells.

The fighting marks a dramatic escalation in a long-running dispute.

A UN court ruling in 2013 settled the matter for more than a decade, but the current crisis erupted in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a border clash.

Relations soured dramatically when Cambodia’s influential ex-leader Hun Sen last month released a recording of a call with Thailand’s then-prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra focused on the row.

The leak triggered a political crisis in Thailand as Paetongtarn was accused of not standing up for Thailand enough, and of criticising her own army.

She was suspended from office by a court order.

Originally published as ‘Quickly work out’: Trump says Thailand and Cambodia agree to ceasefire talks