Trump announces ceasefire deal between Thailand and Cambodia

US President Donald Trump has announced that Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to a ceasefire, bringing a halt to renewed border fighting that had displaced approximately 700,000 people. In a statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump credited a "very good conversation" with the nations' prime ministers for securing the breakthrough.

Terms of the agreement and US role

Trump stated the two sides agreed to "cease all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original peace accord made with me, and them," acknowledging the help of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. He characterized a roadside bomb that killed and wounded Thai soldiers as an accident, but noted Thailand retaliated strongly. The US president framed the deal as preventing a "major war," adding both countries are now focused on peace and continued trade with the United States.

Context of a fragile and disputed border

The clashes are the latest eruption in a long-running border dispute between the Southeast Asian neighbors. A peace deal brokered in Kuala Lumpur in October, witnessed by Trump and Anwar Ibrahim, was suspended after Thai soldiers were injured by a landmine. This week's violence claimed at least 23 lives since Monday, following a major clash in July that killed at least 48 people, highlighting the persistent volatility of the frontier.

Regional diplomacy and next steps

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the current ASEAN chair, confirmed discussing the conflict with Trump and affirmed Kuala Lumpur's readiness to support de-escalation, civilian protection, and regional stability. He announced plans to convene a Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to assess the situation and bolster peace efforts, underscoring the regional bloc's role in managing the crisis alongside US diplomatic engagement.