Border conflict in Southeast Asia: Printing from Trump on Thailand and Cambodia – new fights

Despite the urgent demands of US President Donald Trump after a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, the fights on the border of neighboring countries last. Both sides accused each other in the morning that they had triggered the new battles. Meanwhile, the number of displaced persons in the controversial region continues to increase.

On Monday, a meeting between the heads of government of the two countries was planned in Malaysia, Malaysian state media reported, citing the Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan. The spokesman for the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nikorndej Balankura, confirmed the reports in the afternoon at a press conference without naming details. This year Malaysia has chaired the Southeast Asian community of Asean and had already offered himself as an intermediary in the conflict in the past few days.

New battles in the border region

According to the Thai military, Cambodia is said to have opened the fire again in the early morning hours and also met houses during the fire. According to the Thai newspaper “Khaosod”, the attack in the northeastern province of Surin occurred. The International Community had to condemn the “inhuman and reprehensible acts”, the Foreign Ministry said in Bangkok. In response, Thailand is said to have flew air strikes to Cambodian military positions again.

Cambodia’s government, on the other hand, emphasized that Thailand first attacked. “In all combat areas (…), Thai armed forces have used artillery, drones and planes to fire grenades, bombs and scattering on Cambodian territory,” said Mali Socheata, spokeswoman for the Cambodian Department of Defense. Significant damage to streets and other infrastructure was also caused. In addition, Thailand targeted two well-known Hindu Temple.

Mutual blame

Since the beginning of the clashes on Thursday, the Southeast Asian neighbors accused each other of triggering the escalation. The border conflict has been smoldering since the colonial period, and in the past there have been bloody battles with dead several times, so last in 2011. What exactly led to the current intolerations remains unclear.

Trump wrote on Saturday after the phone calls on the Truth Social platform: “You agreed to meet immediately and quickly work out peace and ultimately peace!” He added: “By chance we are negotiating with both countries about our trade relationships, but we don’t want to close a deal with any of the two countries if they fight – and I told them too!” It was not known whether and when such a meeting could take place. Trump had previously announced that they wanted to prove the two countries with tariffs of 36 percent in early August.

How do the countries react to Trump’s demand?

The Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet had declared in a message after the phone call that his country voice Trump’s proposal of an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between the two armed forces. He thanked the US President for his initiative and the mediation in the conflict.

Thailand’s head of the head of the head of the transition Phumtham Wechayachai also emphasized that his government was “fundamentally agreed with a ceasefire”. However, the Cambodian side must first show serious peace intentions.

In a comment by the Thai newspaper “Khaosod” it was said that both countries might now let the situation escalate quickly and try to take as much territory as possible “before they have to rush at the negotiating table because of Trump”. This may be your last chance before you would have to agree to a ceasefire because of the Trump tariffs.

And could also convey

UN Secretary General António Guterres emphasized that he was also available as a mediator. “I urgently ask both sides to immediately agree on a ceasefire and to solve all problems in dialogue,” he wrote on X and added: “I am still available to support the efforts to support a peaceful solution to the conflict.”

The human rights organization Amnesty International was horrified that civilian infrastructure, including health facilities, had been hit in the fights. “Civilians were killed and hundreds of thousands of people were driven out,” said a message. Amnesty also called for an immediate fire break to protect the civilian population. So far, more than a dozen dead and many injuries have been reported on both sides.

Number of displaced persons increases

According to government, more than 130,000 people are fleeing in Thailand. According to the authorities, further districts in the province of Buriram were evacuated on Sunday because the people there were no longer safe.

According to the Ministry of Department in Phnom Penh, the number of displaced persons in Cambodia has now increased to 80,000. Hundreds of schools in the border area are closed.

Tens of thousands of Cambodian workers who live in Thailand meanwhile want to go back home as soon as possible. The border crossing in Ban Laem in the province of Chanthaburi, on which they had resisted, was opened in the morning, reported Thai PBS. It was seen in pictures how numerous people packed the border with their belongings. According to Cambodia’s government, more than 1.2 million Cambodian lived and worked in the neighboring country in 2024.

Peace appeal from the Vatican

Pope Leo XIV intended in the traditional Angelus prayer of people who suffer from the conflicts and violence in the world. “In particular, I pray for the people who are affected by the clashes on the border between Thailand and Cambodia, especially for the children and the expelled families,” said the head of the Catholic Church on St. Peter’s Square. “May the peace prince inspire everyone to seek dialogue and reconciliation.”