Trump says he will make a call to end hostilities as Thailand and Cambodia ‘at it again’ | Thailand
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would make a call on renewed hostilities on the Thailand-Cambodia border, where fighting has resumed less than two months after a ceasefire he brokered between the two countries collapsed.
Speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania, the US president reiterated his skills at ensuring global peace, saying “I’ve ended eight wars in ten months” before listing hostilities between Kosovo and Serbia, Pakistan and India, and Israel and Iran.
Admitting that conflicts have resumed in the disputed border region in Southeast Asia, Trump claimed that he would step in again to calm the tension.
“I hate to say that this expedition, Cambodia-Thailand, starts today and I’m going to have to make a phone call tomorrow,” he told the crowd.
“Who else would have made a phone call and said, ‘I’m going to stop the war between two very powerful countries, Thailand and Cambodia?’ They’re going to attack again.”
Deadly clashes have escalated along the disputed border this week as each side sought to blame the other for the conflict and vowed to defend its own territory. More than 500,000 people have fled their homes to safety in Thailand and Cambodia since the reignited conflict began.
Both sides accused each other of violating the US-backed ceasefire agreement brokered by Trump in July and signed in Trump’s presence six weeks ago.
Tensions have been rising since Thailand suspended de-escalation measures in November after a Thai soldier was injured by a mine that Bangkok said was newly laid by Cambodia, a claim Cambodia denies.
In a sign that neither side is willing to back down, Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Tuesday that Cambodia had not yet contacted Thailand about possible talks and clashes would continue.
“We have to do what we have to do,” he said. “The government will support any military operations as previously planned.” He said earlier this week that military action was necessary to protect the country’s sovereignty and ensure public safety.
Hun Sen, Cambodia’s senate president and former prime minister, claimed in a statement posted on Facebook and Telegram that his country refrained from retaliating on Monday but began firing at Thai forces overnight.
“Cambodia wants peace, but Cambodia is forced to fight to defend its own territory,” Hun Sen wrote.
As of Tuesday night, Cambodia’s defense ministry said nine civilians had been killed and 20 seriously injured since Monday, while Thai officials said four soldiers were killed and 68 others were injured.
via Reuters and Associated Press
