Trump declares end to Cambodia-Thailand fighting, criticizes UN role

US President Donald Trump has publicly declared an end to the recent border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand, framing the new ceasefire as a successful outcome and using the moment to criticize the United Nations. In a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump stated the fighting "will stop momentarily, and they will go back to living in peace, as per our recently agreed to original treaty."

Praise for Leaders and Swift Resolution

Trump extended congratulations to the leaders of both Southeast Asian nations for their "brilliance in coming to this rapid and very fair conclusion." He characterized the diplomatic process as "fast & decisive, as all of these situations should be!" The ceasefire agreement, signed on Saturday, brings to a close nearly 20 days of intense fighting along the disputed border that reportedly resulted in around 99 fatalities and displaced close to a million civilians from border communities.

A Broader Critique of International Institutions

The US president then pivoted to a broader critique of global governance, explicitly targeting the United Nations. "With all of the wars and conflicts I have settled and stopped ... perhaps the United States has become the real United Nations, which has been of very little assistance or help in any of them," Trump asserted. He called for the UN to "start getting active and involved in world peace," contrasting its perceived inaction with American diplomatic engagement under his administration.

Context of the Conflict and Ceasefire

The recent hostilities, which resumed on December 8 after a border skirmish, have taken a heavy toll. Thai authorities reported 26 soldiers and one civilian killed, with 41 other civilian deaths attributed to collateral effects. Cambodia's Interior Ministry cited 31 civilian fatalities. The newly implemented truce reinforces an earlier ceasefire brokered in July by the US, China, and Malaysia, which was later formalized in a Kuala Lumpur meeting in October. Trump's statement highlights the ongoing role Washington sees for itself in mediating regional disputes, even as it questions the effectiveness of established multilateral bodies.