President Donald Trump has intervened again in the long-running Thailand–Cambodia border dispute after new clashes raised alarm across the region. The White House confirmed Friday that Trump held calls with both governments to urge calm and renew diplomacy.
The peace pact Trump co-signed last month was meant to halt unrest following deadly fighting earlier this year. However, the fragile deal was disrupted when Thailand paused its participation after a landmine blast injured its personnel.
Accusations of renewed skirmishes soon resurfaced, with Cambodia reporting one civilian death from the latest confrontation. The situation threatens to undo recent diplomatic progress and reignite a conflict that displaced hundreds of thousands this year.
Malaysia, which has played a central role as mediator, was also consulted as Trump worked to stabilize the situation. The earlier truce signing in Kuala Lumpur highlighted Malaysia’s importance in the peace process.
Although border tensions date back more than a century, this year’s violence was among the worst in recent memory. Five days of combat over the summer killed 43 people and forced nearly 300,000 to flee, underscoring the urgency of renewed diplomatic efforts.