President Donald Trump placed urgent calls to Thailand and Cambodia after reports of renewed violence along their disputed border, the White House announced Friday. The intervention comes as the peace agreement Trump helped secure late last month begins to unravel.
Trump had championed the October 26 truce, calling it part of a series of global peace efforts that he believed merited international recognition. But optimism faded quickly when Thailand suspended the deal following a landmine incident that injured members of its security forces.
By midweek, both Thailand and Cambodia accused one another of launching fresh attacks. Cambodian authorities alleged that one civilian had been killed, deepening concerns that tensions could escalate back to the levels seen earlier this year.
The White House confirmed that Trump also engaged Malaysia, a key facilitator of the peace process. Malaysia played a central role during the initial negotiations and hosted the signing ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.
The conflict between Thailand and Cambodia has simmered for more than a century, but recent flare-ups have been particularly deadly. Five days of fighting during the summer killed 43 people and drove an estimated 300,000 residents from their homes, underscoring the region’s volatility.
Picture credit: www.flickr.com
