Fresh violence between Thailand and Cambodia has prompted US President Donald Trump to personally call leaders of both nations in an effort to preserve a fragile peace agreement. The renewed clashes, which erupted just weeks after the truce signing, have reignited long-standing tensions along their shared border.
The White House confirmed that Trump spoke directly with officials from both countries to urge a return to restraint and dialogue. The peace deal, which he co-signed on October 26 during his Asia tour, had previously been promoted by Trump as an example of successful diplomacy.
However, the agreement began to unravel when Thailand suspended its participation following a landmine explosion earlier in the week. Both sides later accused each other of renewed attacks, and Cambodia reported that one civilian had been killed in the latest outbreak of violence.
In addition to reaching out to Thailand and Cambodia, Trump also coordinated with Malaysia, which has played a key role as a mediator throughout the conflict. Malaysia was instrumental in facilitating the original truce ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur.
The border tensions trace back more than a century, but this year’s violence escalated dramatically during the summer. Five days of fighting left 43 dead and forced around 300,000 people from their homes, reinforcing fears that the conflict could spiral further without firm diplomatic intervention.