Trump Says Thailand, Cambodia Agree To Seek Ceasefire

By Kenny Teng and Vijian Paramasivam

BANGKOK/ PHNOM PENH, July 27 (Bernama) -- United States (US) President Donald Trump said Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to pursue immediate ceasefire negotiations over the ongoing border clashes.

 Trump announced on his Truth Social platform on Saturday that he had spoken to both parties — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai — that both leaders agreed to seek immediate ceasefire.

“They have agreed to immediately meet and quickly work out a ceasefire and, ultimately, peace! It was an honour to deal with both countries,” Trump said.

Trump also said that he would not proceed with trade agreements involving either country until the fighting had ceased.

“We happen to be, by coincidence, currently dealing on trade with both countries, but do not want to make any deal with either country if they are fighting,” Trump said.

Meanwhile, Phumtham confirmed the conversation on his official Facebook account, stating that Thailand agrees in principle to the establishment of a ceasefire.

“I thanked President Trump for his concern and also requested President Trump to convey to the Cambodian side that Thailand seeks to convene a bilateral dialogue as soon as possible to develop measures and procedures for the ceasefire and to pursue a peaceful resolution to the conflict,” he said.

He added that Thailand hoped to see genuine commitment from the Cambodian side.

Responding to Trump's calls, Manet said Cambodia agreed with the proposal for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between the two armed forces.

“This is positive news for the soldiers and people of both countries. I hope that the Thai side will not reverse their position as they did with (Malaysian) Prime Minister (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim's coordination effort on July 24,” Manet posted on his Facebook on Saturday night.

Trump imposed a 36 per cent tariff on Cambodian and Thai exports to the US earlier this month, and both countries are in negotiations on the range of tariffs imposed.

The new tariff announcement takes effect on August 1.

On Friday, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – who currently holds the ASEAN Chairmanship – had also spoken with both Thai and Cambodian leaders to urge for immediate ceasefire.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who had expressed deep concern over the clashes on Friday, had also urged both sides to agree to an immediate ceasefire and to resolve their differences through dialogue.

The border disagreement between the two nations turned ugly last Thursday (July 24), which led to armed confrontation along Cambodia’s northern border areas.

The latest hostilities have killed more than 20 people on the Thai side, while the Cambodian authorities reported that five Cambodian soldiers and eight civilians have lost their lives, with thousands of others displaced on both sides.

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have escalated since May 28, following a confrontation between soldiers near the disputed Preah Vihear border area, which resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier.

The two Southeast Asian neighbours have long contested an 817-kilometre undemarcated stretch of border, a persistent source of conflict and strained diplomatic relations.

-- BERNAMA