Cambodian and Thai leaders agreed to meet for a ceasefire talks after several days of cross-border violence, according to a Saturday statement from President Donald Trump.
Trump said he spoke early in the weekend with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai acting prime minister in an effort to restore peace.
“They agreed to meet soon, and quickly agreed to settle a ceasefire and, ultimately, peace!” Trump wrote about the true society in a series of posts on Saturday about an outline of his diplomatic efforts.
Trump said he warned Hun Mane and Pulsam not to trade with either country if a fatal border dispute continues.
“They also want to go back to the ‘trading table’ with the US. I think this is inappropriate until the battle stops,” Trump wrote.
Earlier this month, Trump wrote to Thailand and Cambodia, threatening tariffs of 36% on most of its exports to the US from August 1st.
Earlier local time on Sunday morning, Hun Mane thanked Trump and said that Cambodia had agreed to a “proposed for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between the two troops.” He added that he had previously called for a ceasefire against the ASEAN Speaker and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
A statement from Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been further measured and said he would like to see “honest intentions from Cambodia,” but Phumsam has asked him to “communicate with President Trump.”
Since colonial power France painted borders between them over a century ago, Bangkok and Phnom Penh have fought over contested territory. The new deadly conflict pits Thailand, a longtime ally of a US alliance with decades of experience, with close ties with Cambodia’s relatively young military and China.
Since the outbreak of fighting on Thursday, more than dozens of people have been killed, dozens of injuries reported, and more than 150,000 civilians have been displaced. Officials from both sides said the clash continued until Saturday.
The UN condemned the violence and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres provided his support “in the midst of a peaceful resolution of the conflict” in a statement released by his spokesman on Saturday.
