The US President claims he will personally intervene to halt the “war” between the Southeast Asian neighbours, even as Bangkok signals it is not open to outside mediation.
President Donald Trump says he’s going to stop the border war between Thailand and Cambodia with a single phone call. At a rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday night, he told supporters he’d contact both countries’ leaders “tomorrow” and demand they stop the violence that’s already forced over 500,000 people from their homes.
The fighting kicked back into high gear on Monday with Thai airstrikes and heavy artillery, and it’s only gotten worse. Cambodia’s Defence Ministry said Wednesday that at least nine civilians are dead now, with 20 more seriously hurt. The violence has completely destroyed a fragile ceasefire that Trump himself helped put together back in July and made official at a summit in October.
Trump was in full form at the rally, talking up his ability to solve international crises. “I hate to say this one, named Cambodia-Thailand… it started up today and tomorrow I am going to have to make a phone call,” he said. “Who else could say, ‘I’m going to make a phone call and stop a war of two very powerful countries?'”
But there’s a problem. While a top adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Phnom Penh is “ready to talk at any time,” Thailand isn’t playing ball. Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told reporters the situation isn’t right for outside mediation and warned that threatening US tariffs to force Bangkok to the table won’t work.
“They’re going at it again,” Trump said, referring to the collapsed truce. “In ten months I ended eight wars… I think they’ll get it.”
Thai officials, though, are standing firm on sovereignty. “We saw no potential for negotiations… The government will support all kinds of military operations as planned earlier,” a Thai spokesperson said, reflecting Bangkok’s hardened position after Thai soldiers got injured by landmines last month.
The fight is over disputed territory around ancient temples like Preah Vihear, sites that have sparked nationalist passions for decades. This current flare-up is the deadliest since the five-day “July War” earlier this year, which killed 48 people.
The collapse of Trump’s deal is being seen as a real setback for US foreign policy in the region. The original agreement, worked out with Malaysia’s help and signed in Kuala Lumpur, leaned heavily on US economic muscle, specifically the threat of trade tariffs. Thailand seems willing to call that bluff now.
As Trump gets ready to make his call on Wednesday, things on the ground are still dangerous. Heavy shelling has hit Thailand’s Si Sa Ket province and Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province, and both armies are moving more troops to the front lines. Whether Trump’s personal touch can force another ceasefire is the big question hanging over the region right now.
Also Read / Thailand launches airstrikes on Cambodia as soldier killed in border clash.
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