Thailand's caretaker Prime Minister Anutin and Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet confirmed that on the 12th they each spoke on the phone with U.S. President Trump regarding the Thai-Cambodian border conflict. Trump posted on social media that day, stating that the leaders of both countries had agreed to a ceasefire starting that evening.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Anutin said to the media at the Prime Minister’s Office that evening that when briefing Trump about the border situation, he stated that the Cambodian side had first violated the joint peace statement between the two countries, failing to withdraw its troops as agreed, which resulted in harm to the lives and property of the Thai people. Thailand therefore took retaliatory action to protect the lives and property of its citizens. He noted that if the two sides are to reach another ceasefire, the Cambodian side must first withdraw its troops and clear landmines from the border.
Later that evening, Hun Manet posted on social media that he had spoken to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar on the 11th and to Trump on the 12th. Cambodia has always adhered to the spirit of the Cambodian-Thai joint peace statement and seeks to resolve disputes peacefully. He suggested that the United States and Malaysia, or relevant agencies, could use their intelligence-gathering capabilities, such as satellite imagery, to verify which side fired first.
At noon on the 12th Eastern Time, Trump wrote on social media that he had already spoken on the phone with Anutin and Hun Manet, and that the leaders of both countries had agreed to a ceasefire beginning that evening, resuming implementation of the peace agreement previously reached between the two countries.
● Thanks to Malaysian PM for assistance
Trump stated that the roadside bomb that initially caused multiple Thai soldiers’ deaths and injuries was an “accident,” but Thailand still launched a “very fierce” counterattack. Both countries are now ready, together with the U.S., “to achieve peace and continue trade.” He also thanked Anwar “for helping with this important matter.”
Starting December 7, fierce clashes erupted again in the Thai-Cambodian border area, with heavy shelling heard in many places. Both sides accused each other of “firing first.” The days-long conflict has already caused at least 10 Cambodian civilian deaths, 11 Thai soldiers killed, and hundreds of thousands fleeing their homes.