Fighting between Thailand and Cambodia entered into a third day on Wednesday as U.S. President Donald Trump said he would make a phone call to stop the conflict.
President Trump's statement comes after he had brokered a ceasefire in July to end a five-day battle between the Asian neighbours.
Thailand's foreign minister said in an interview on Tuesday that he saw no potential for negotiations in the border conflict, adding the situation was not conducive to third-party mediation, while a top adviser to Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet told his country was "ready to talk at any time".
"I hate to say this one, named Cambodia-Thailand and it started up today and tomorrow I am going to have to make a phone call. Who else could say I'm going to make a phone call and stop a war of two very powerful countries, Thailand and Cambodia."
Trump has previously spoken to leaders of both countries and been central to the fragile truce between them since the July battles, which killed at least 48 people and were the heaviest clashes between the two in recent history.
In July, Trump used the leverage of trade negotiations to broker a ceasefire. Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told Reuters he did not think the threat of tariffs should be used to pressure his country into talks.
Tensions have simmered since Thailand last month suspended de-escalation measures that were agreed at an October summit in Trump's presence, after a Thai soldier was maimed by a landmine that Bangkok said was newly laid by Cambodia. Cambodia rejects the allegation.
Both countries have said they have evacuated hundreds of thousands of people from the disputed border areas.
As of Tuesday night, Cambodia's Defence Ministry said nine civilians had been killed since Monday and 20 seriously injured, while Thai officials said four soldiers had been killed and 68 had been injured.
Thailand has made clear its aim is to dent its neighbour's ability to launch attacks, with a top general on Monday saying the army's objective was to "cripple Cambodia’s military capability for a long time to come".
Cambodia's Defence Ministry said its troops had no choice but to take defensive action on Tuesday, accusing Thailand of "indiscriminately and brutally targeting civilian residential areas" with artillery shells, allegations Bangkok rejected.
Pakistan is holding talks with Afghanistan to end the worst conflict between the South Asian neighbou...
In a major policy reversal, the U.S. Treasury has removed Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, from its sanctions list, sign...
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged Americans to look beyond the illusions of war propaganda and to watch ...
A technical team from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has touched down in Cuba this wee...
“He is not… the owner!” U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon wrote, temporarily halting construction of President ...
The European Broadcasting Union and global entertainment company Voxovation have announced that the first-ever Eurovision Song Contest Asia will take place in 2026, with Bangkok selected to host the inaugural edition.
Anutin Charnvirakul has returned to power after winning a fresh mandate on Thursday following a Parliamentary vote in a country plagued by political drama and turmoil.
Thailand and the United States, alongside 28 partner nations, began Southeast Asia’s largest and longest-running military exercise, the 45th Cobra Gold, on Tuesday (24 February) in Rayong province, Thailand.
Thousands of local residents and international visitors have gathered in northern Thailand for the 49th annual Chiang Mai Flower Festival, one of the city’s longest-running contemporary events.
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is intensifying, with fresh strikes near Tehran, European calls for restraint, and Iran threatening to target U.S. firms in the region, raising fears of a broader escalation across the Middle East.
There are fears of an oil spill after a drone strike hit a Kuwaiti oil tanker near Dubai on Tuesday, while U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran reportedly killed at least two people. A loud explosion was heard in Beirut in southern Lebanon early Wednesday, as oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel.
Russian-flagged tanker carrying approximately 700,000 barrels of crude oil docked at Cuba's Matanzas oil terminal on Tuesday, shipping data confirmed, marking a vital and controversial delivery to an island paralysed by severe energy shortages and a suffocating U.S. blockade.
Fears of wider escalation grow despite President Donald Trump saying U.S. strikes on Iran could end within weeks. Meanwhile missile attacks, tanker incidents and rising casualties across Israel, Lebanon and the Gulf heighten risks to regional stability and energy routes.
A Russian military An-26 aircraft has crashed in Crimea, killing all 30 people on board, Russia’s Defence Ministry has confirmed.
In a major policy reversal, the U.S. Treasury has removed Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, from its sanctions list, signalling a sharp shift in Washington’s approach to Caracas.
A technical team from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has touched down in Cuba this week to launch an "independent investigation" into a deadly maritime shootout that happened on 25 February.
“He is not… the owner!” U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon wrote, temporarily halting construction of President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom, underscoring a cascade of legal, regulatory and public opposition that has engulfed the controversial expansion.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 2 April, covering the latest developments you need to know
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised Russia for answering his offer of an Easter ceasefire with airstrikes on Wednesday but he praised as "positive" fresh talks with U.S. mediators aimed at resolving the four-year conflict.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment