Thai and Cambodian leaders have agreed to renew a ceasefire after days of deadly border clashes, Trump says

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said Friday (Dec 12) that Thai and Cambodian leaders have agreed to renew a truce after days of deadly clashes had threatened to undo a ceasefire the US administration had helped broker earlier this year.

Trump announced the agreement to restart the ceasefire in a social media posting following calls with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.

The Republican said that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar played an important role in helping him push Thailand and Cambodia to once again agree to cease fighting.

“They have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me, and them, with the help of the Great Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim,” Trump said in his Truth Social posting.

“It is my Honor to work with Anutin and Hun in resolving what could have evolved into a major War between two otherwise wonderful and prosperous Countries!” he added. 

Trump’s tone differed from that of Anutin hours earlier, who said the call “went well”, but made no mention of an agreement between the Southeast Asian neighbours to stop the fighting.

Cambodia said on Saturday that Thailand continued dropping bombs on its territory.

“On December 13, 2025, the Thai military used two F-16 fighter jets to drop seven bombs” on a number of targets, the Cambodian defence ministry said in an X post.

“Thai military aircraft have not stopped bombing yet,” it said.

This week’s unrest has killed at least 20 people, with more than 260 wounded, according to tallies by both countries, which have blamed each other for reigniting the conflict. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced on both sides of the border.

Anutin said he had asked Trump to urge Cambodia to cease hostilities, withdraw troops and remove landmines.

“I explained to President Trump that we are not the aggressor against Cambodia but we are retaliating,” Anutin told reporters.

“He wants a ceasefire. I told him to tell our friends – don’t just say a ceasefire but they must tell the world that Cambodia will cease fire, withdraw its troops, remove all landmines it has planted. They must show us first.” 

A spokesperson for Cambodia’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s call to Hun Manet, who in August nominated him for the Nobel Prize.