Fighting continues between Thailand, Cambodia after Trump claim of ceasefire

Despite high-level diplomatic attempts to mediate the conflict, the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia escalated on Saturday morning. This resurgence of violence occurred only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he had successfully brokered a ceasefire between the two nations. However, reports from the ground suggest that the agreement failed to take hold, with the Cambodian Ministry of Information reporting continued aerial strikes by Thai fighter jets and ongoing bombardment along the volatile frontier.

The Thai military has responded with its own set of grievances, accusing Cambodia of breaching international protocols by targeting civilian areas. Furthermore, Bangkok has alleged that Cambodian forces are deploying new landmines along the border, an accusation that Cambodia continues to deny. This breakdown in communication highlights the deep-seated mistrust that persists despite the involvement of international intermediaries and direct phone consultations between the U.S. President and the leaders of both Southeast Asian nations.

The conflicting narratives surrounding the ceasefire have caused significant diplomatic confusion. While President Trump stated that both Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Premier Hun Manet had agreed to "cease all shooting," neither regional leader has formally ratified this claim in their subsequent public addresses. In fact, Prime Minister Anutin explicitly stated that no such agreement existed, and the Thai Foreign Ministry has remained non-committal when questioned about the American administration's assertions.

In his own public statement, Premier Hun Manet acknowledged the discussions with the U.S. and Malaysia but emphasized a return to the peaceful framework established in Kuala Lumpur back in October. Interestingly, Manet has called upon the intelligence agencies of the United States and Malaysia to intervene technically, requesting that they use their surveillance capabilities to provide an objective verification of which side initiated the most recent round of artillery and rocket fire.

The current hostilities represent a significant setback for a peace process that had shown promise earlier in the year. In October, a truce mediated by President Trump in Malaysia had outlined a clear path toward the withdrawal of heavy weaponry and the repatriation of prisoners of war. However, that progress was derailed last month when Thailand suspended the agreement following an incident where a Thai soldier was severely injured by a landmine, a development that Bangkok insists is proof of Cambodian bad faith.

The ongoing clashes are among the most severe since a similar five-day conflict in July, which was also temporarily halted by U.S. intervention. With over 800 kilometers of disputed territory and a history of sporadic violence, the failure of this latest ceasefire suggests that a lasting resolution will require more than verbal assurances. As the heavy exchange of rockets and artillery continues, the regional stability of Southeast Asia remains increasingly precarious.