Thailand and Cambodia to hold ceasefire talks after days of deadly border clashes

Reuters

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to meet for ceasefire talks after days of deadly border fighting that has killed more than a dozen people and forced over 150,000 civilians to flee.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he had spoken with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s acting prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai in an effort to end the violence. Trump wrote on social media that both leaders had agreed to meet immediately to work out a ceasefire and “ultimately, peace.”

Hun Manet thanked Trump for his mediation and backed an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire.” Thailand’s foreign ministry said Wechayachai supported dialogue but wanted to see “sincere intention from the Cambodian side.”

The clashes, which began on Thursday, centre on a territory long disputed since colonial-era borders were drawn by France. The fighting has reignited tensions between U.S. ally Thailand and Cambodia, which maintains close military ties with China.

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