Cambodia-Thailand fighting intensifies as Bangkok rejects mediation: Will Trump's 'peace call' work?
Thailand and Cambodia’s border dispute ignited yet another clash this year after a landmine killed a Thai soldier, triggering air strikes. Now it has put Trump-brokered ASEAN peace deal in jeopardy with Trump claiming that he can stop the war
Fighting rages at Cambodia-Thailand border
Fighting raged at the border of Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday (Dec 11) even as US President Donald Trump said that he would call leaders of both countries. AFP reported that combat was heard near centuries-old temples. At least 15 people, including Thai soldiers and Cambodian civilians, have been killed so far, as clashes entered Day 4. More than half a million people have fled border areas
What Trump said?
Speaking to reporters, Trump said that he is planning to to make a phone call to the leaders of both the countries. “I think I can get them to stop fighting…Who else can do that? Every once in a while, one will flame up again and I have to put out that little flame…” Trump said. He is scheduled to speak to them today.
What is the dispute between the Southeast Asian nations?
The Southeast Asian nations - Thailand and Cambodia - dispute the colonial-era demarcation of their 800-kilometre (500-mile) border. Both countries also claim the land surrounding the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple as their own.
What sparked the fresh clashes?
The fresh clashes were triggered after a Thai soldier was injured by a landmine, allegedly placed near disputed border area by Cambodia, in November. Cambodia denied the claims, but the Thai soldier died later prompting Thailand to launch an air strike.
What happened in May-June?
Earlier in late May, both sides exchanged fire near the disputed border area and a Cambodian soldier was killed. Intense clashes erupted thereafter that continued for approximately a week. It left 43 people dead and forced around 300,000 to flee.
Trump brokered peace deal
The fighting stopped after the United States, China and Malaysia, as chair of the regional bloc ASEAN, brokered a ceasefire in July. The ceasefire was formalised in October 2025 after US President Donald Trump intervened. Trump reportedly applied trade and tariff pressure and threatened that negotiations will be halted if they do not stop fighting. A peace deal was signed at the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur. However, the fresh clashes now has put Donald Trump's peace deal in jeopardy
Will Trump's phone call work?
Thailand's foreign ministry, in a statement, rejected any third party mediation, though it did not mention Trump. It said that it was "not ready" for mediation with Cambodia, as border clashes “crossed the line.” Thailand made it clear that it would reject an offer of a third country to mediate until it was satisfied the conflict would not repeat itself in future. "Thais have been killed, we have to ensure this does not recur again, we have to ensure that we have enough trust before any talks can happen and right now is not the moment,” the statement added.
)
)
)
)
)