Source CNBC
BANGKOK/PHNOM PENH — Deadly fighting continues to rage along the disputed border between Thailand and Cambodia, with hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced, even as U.S. President Donald Trump publicly declared a renewed ceasefire agreement between the two nations.
Thai officials have explicitly denied any agreement to halt military operations, contradicting the President’s assertion, which was posted on his Truth Social platform late Friday (local time).
Fighting Intensifies, Casualties Mount
The renewed conflict, which flared up on December 7, has become the most intense border exchange since a five-day clash in July. Reports from both sides indicate the sustained use of heavy weaponry, including artillery, rockets, and Thai airstrikes on Cambodian positions.
Casualties: The latest tallies, though disputed, place the death toll at over a dozen people, including both soldiers and civilians, with hundreds more wounded.
Displacement Crisis: An estimated half a million civilians have been evacuated from the border regions in Thailand and Cambodia, pouring into temporary shelters and straining local resources.
Diplomatic Fallout: In a sign of escalating tensions, Cambodia has reportedly withdrawn its team from the 33rd Southeast Asian Games currently underway in Thailand.
Bangkok Rejects Trump’s Ceasefire Announcement
President Trump, who had previously helped broker the original July ceasefire, announced he had spoken with both Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.
“They have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me, and them, with the help of the Great PM of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim,” Trump wrote.
However, Prime Minister Anutin, speaking to reporters on Saturday, flatly contradicted the claim. Anutin stated that he had explained Thailand’s actions as retaliation and defense of its sovereignty, and that any ceasefire would require Cambodia to first halt its attacks and remove landmines allegedly planted along the frontier.
The Thai Foreign Ministry later formally disputed the President’s assertion, stating that no such agreement had been reached. Cambodia has not yet released an official statement on Trump’s claim, but its Defense Ministry reported that Thai jets carried out new airstrikes Saturday morning.
Why the Truce Collapsed
The latest round of fighting marks the collapse of a peace deal formalized in October, which itself followed the deadly July conflict. Both countries accuse the other of violating the terms of the agreement.
The conflict stems from a long-running, unresolved territorial dispute over the 817-kilometre (508-mile) border, including surrounding areas of historic temples. Thailand had previously suspended implementation of the truce in November after several of its soldiers were injured by landmines, which it blamed on Cambodia.
