Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia escalated over the weekend as Thailand’s Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, declared that military operations would continue along the disputed border. This announcement came mere hours after United States President Donald Trump claimed to have facilitated a ceasefire between the two nations. On Saturday, Thai fighter jets targeted positions in Cambodia, signaling a significant escalation in hostilities.
In a statement shared on Facebook, Prime Minister Charnvirakul made it clear that Thailand would persist in its military actions until the country no longer felt threatened. “We will continue to perform military actions until we feel no more harm and threats to our land and people,” he stated. This defiance contradicts Trump’s assertion that both Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet had agreed to halt all military engagements following their discussions on Friday.
Despite Trump’s efforts to broker peace, neither leader publicly acknowledged a ceasefire agreement after their calls. Charnvirakul specifically emphasized that there was no ceasefire in place. “I want to make it clear. Our actions this morning already spoke,” he remarked, highlighting the ongoing military actions.
The White House has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the continued conflict. In contrast, Hun Manet reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to finding a peaceful resolution in accordance with the prior agreement from October. Since the start of the week, both countries have engaged in heavy artillery exchanges along the 817 km (approximately 508 miles) border, marking some of the most intense fighting seen since a notable clash in July.
The July confrontation, which involved severe clashes, led to Trump’s intervention, prompting him to express his belief that he deserved a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. Following an incident last month where a Thai soldier was injured by a landmine—allegedly laid by Cambodia—Thailand suspended the ceasefire. Cambodia, however, has denied these allegations.
On Saturday, Thai Defence Ministry spokesperson, Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, reported ongoing clashes across seven border provinces. He stated that the Cambodian military had deployed heavy weapons, which necessitated a retaliatory response from Thailand. Meanwhile, Cambodia’s Information Ministry claimed that Thai forces had targeted infrastructure, including bridges and buildings, and had deployed artillery from naval vessels.
Charnvirakul also dismissed Trump’s characterization of a “roadside bomb” that injured Thai soldiers as an accident, asserting, “It was definitely not a roadside accident.” In response to the escalating violence, Hun Manet indicated that he had requested assistance from both the United States and Malaysia, the latter having acted as a mediator in previous peace discussions, to investigate and determine which side initiated the latest round of attacks.
As the situation develops, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution to the ongoing conflict that has historical roots and significant implications for regional stability.
