President Donald Trump has called for an urgent end to the escalating violence between Cambodia and Thailand, warning of trade penalties and diplomatic fallout if hostilities continue.
Fighting along the border has resulted in more than 30 fatalities and forced over 160,000 civilians to flee their homes. In a strong public message, Trump threatened to suspend ongoing trade discussions and impose a 36% tariff on both nations should the violence persist.
Trump personally contacted Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. Both leaders reportedly agreed in principle to begin ceasefire negotiations, although Thailand emphasized the need for genuine commitment from Cambodia.
A high-stakes diplomatic meeting is now scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur next week, with Malaysia hosting and broader support expected from the U.S., China, and ASEAN member states.
Despite these efforts, sporadic exchanges of fire and accusations from both sides continued throughout the weekend, raising doubts about whether the ceasefire talks will hold. As tensions flare, the international community is watching closely, with the U.S. positioned as a potential key broker in averting a wider regional conflict.