Efforts to establish a lasting peace between Thailand and Cambodia, reportedly facilitated by US President Donald Trump, are under intense scrutiny following Cambodian allegations of Thai airstrikes. Phnom Penh reported that on Saturday, Thai F-16 fighter jets carried out strikes against Cambodian bunkers and military sites in the Trat border area, leading to an estimated 165 soldiers killed. This incident directly contradicts the announcement made by President Trump that leaders from both nations had agreed to a renewed ceasefire.
President Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to announce the impending truce, stating, “They have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me, and them, with the help of the Great Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim.” He had engaged in phone calls with both Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul of Thailand prior to this announcement.
An initial ceasefire was brokered in July through Malaysian efforts and considerable pressure from Donald Trump, who had previously threatened adverse trade actions if compliance was not met. This agreement was subsequently broadened and formally ratified in October during a summit in Malaysia attended by Trump. However, underlying tensions have persisted, with ongoing propaganda and sporadic armed encounters along the border.
Thailand has confirmed conducting airstrikes against what it identifies as legitimate military targets. In response, Cambodia has deployed BM-21 multiple rocket launchers, systems designed for offensive operations within a range of 30-40 kilometers. The conflict’s origins date back to 2008, stemming from a dispute over the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, a historical site claimed by both nations, despite a 1962 ruling by the International Court of Justice granting sovereignty to Cambodia.
