CaliToday (15/11/2025): President holds urgent calls with leaders of both nations, urging "immediate de-escalation" after fighting erupts in disputed territory.
U.S. President Donald Trump held urgent telephone conferences with the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia today, in a high-stakes diplomatic intervention aimed at consolidating a fragile ceasefire after a dangerous new flare-up of hostilities along their shared border.
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| Trump oversees peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia |
The presidential calls come just hours after reports emerged of early morning skirmishes in the hotly disputed border region surrounding the ancient Preah Vihear temple. The clash, which reportedly involved small arms fire and light artillery, marks the most significant breach of a truce established following previous U.N. mediation.
According to a White House statement released this morning, President Trump spoke separately with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.
"The President expressed grave concern over the renewed violence and stressed the urgent need for both sides to exercise maximum restraint," the statement read. "He called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for both parties to recommit to the diplomatic channels that have successfully maintained the peace."
A Tinderbox Re-Ignited
The Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, sits on a clifftop promontory that has been a source of intense territorial dispute between the two Southeast Asian neighbors for decades. While the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in 1962 that the temple itself belonged to Cambodia, the unresolved demarcation of the surrounding land has remained a potent military and nationalist tinderbox.
Today's fighting is the first serious exchange in several years, threatening to unravel years of progress made to demilitarize the area and promote joint development.
US Seeks to Solidify Ceasefire
The rapid intervention from Washington underscores the U.S. administration's focus on maintaining stability in Southeast Asia, a region of critical economic and strategic importance. Administration officials fear that a protracted conflict could destabilize the heart of the ASEAN bloc.
Sources familiar with the calls indicated that President Trump emphasized the strong bilateral relationships the U.S. holds with both Bangkok and Phnom Penh and offered U.S. support in mediating a new round of stabilization talks.
Both the Thai and Cambodian governments have acknowledged the calls and subsequently released brief statements confirming their commitment to de-escalation. However, the situation on the ground remains tense, with military units on both sides reportedly on high alert as the international community watches to see if the presidential push is enough to pull the two neighbors back from the brink.
CaliToday.Net