Fresh Fighting Prompts Trump to Call Thailand and Cambodia

Fresh clashes between Thailand and Cambodia have triggered direct intervention from US President Donald Trump, who called both governments on Friday to shore up a faltering peace agreement. The White House stated that Trump urged leaders to prevent further violence.
The truce, signed in late October during Trump’s Asia tour, was promoted by the president as one of several diplomatic successes he believed qualified him for international recognition. But the deal came undone when Thailand halted its participation after one of its troops was wounded by a landmine.
By Wednesday, both countries accused each other of new border attacks, and Cambodia reported a civilian casualty. The renewed tensions threatened to unravel months of mediation efforts led by regional partners.
Malaysia, which helped broker the agreement and hosted the signing ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, was also consulted as Trump sought wider support to settle the unfolding crisis. The White House confirmed Malaysia’s active involvement in efforts to halt the violence.
The dispute over sections of the Thai-Cambodian border has persisted for over a century, but violence escalated dramatically this summer. A five-day conflict killed 43 people and displaced around 300,000 residents before the truce temporarily halted the fighting.