Thailand, Cambodia deny ceasefire as border clashes intensify
Thailand and Cambodia have both disputed claims by US President Donald Trump that a ceasefire had been reached, as heavy fighting intensified along their disputed border and Phnom Penh ordered the closure of all border crossings with Thailand.
Cambodia’s interior ministry said the crossings would remain shut until further notice following renewed clashes on Saturday, despite Mr Trump earlier announcing that the two Southeast Asian neighbours had agreed to halt hostilities.
Acting as a mediator, Mr Trump said he had secured commitments from both sides to revive a ceasefire. However, officials in Bangkok and Phnom Penh separately rejected the assertion, with fighting continuing into Saturday morning.
Cambodia has not directly addressed Mr Trump’s ceasefire claim, but its defence ministry accused Thailand of carrying out airstrikes early on Saturday. Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said some of Mr Trump’s comments did not “reflect an accurate understanding of the situation”.
He criticised Mr Trump’s description of a landmine blast that wounded Thai soldiers as a “roadside accident”, insisting it was a deliberate act of aggression. Mr Sihasak said Thailand was hurt by what he described as the US president relying on “distorted” information rather than Bangkok’s account, noting Thailand’s long-standing alliance with the United States.
The latest escalation follows a skirmish on 7 December that injured two Thai soldiers and collapsed a previous ceasefire brokered in July after five days of intense combat over long-running territorial disputes.
That July truce was mediated by Malaysia and reinforced by pressure from Mr Trump, who threatened trade consequences if both sides failed to comply. The agreement was further formalised in October during a regional meeting in Malaysia attended by the US president.
More than two dozen people have been reported killed on both sides in the past week, while over half a million residents have been displaced. Thailand has confirmed the deaths of 15 of its soldiers and estimated Cambodian military fatalities at 165. Cambodia has not released figures for its troops but said at least 11 civilians were killed and more than 60 injured.
On Friday, after speaking with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Mr Trump announced on social media that both countries had agreed to cease all shooting and return to the original peace accord.
However, Thai authorities later rejected the claim. Mr Anutin said peace would depend on Cambodia first halting its attacks, while Thailand’s foreign ministry stated no ceasefire agreement had been reached. Mr Anutin also dissolved parliament on Friday, paving the way for early elections next year.
Mr Hun, in comments posted early Saturday, confirmed phone calls with Mr Trump and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, thanking both for their efforts toward peace, but made no reference to a ceasefire. He said Cambodia was ready to cooperate toward a lasting resolution.
Mr Anwar later said he was urging both sides to implement a ceasefire, with Malaysia and the United States helping to monitor it. Thailand, however, denied it was involved in talks over the proposal.
Thailand has carried out airstrikes it says are limited to military targets, while Cambodia has launched thousands of BM-21 rockets, which are less precise and have struck largely evacuated areas. Thai authorities said one such rocket hit a civilian area in Sisaket province on Saturday, seriously injuring two people.
Both militaries also reported that Thailand’s navy joined the fighting, with a warship shelling Cambodia’s Koh Kong province. Each side accused the other of firing first, as the conflict showed no immediate signs of easing.
