Thailand Rejects Trump Ceasefire Claim As Border Clashes With Cambodia Kill 24, Displace 500,000
Fresh fighting along a long disputed frontier is testing diplomatic claims of calm, as military activity and civilian displacement continue despite external efforts to de-escalate the crisis. Image courtesy: AI generated picture via DALL-E
Thailand on Saturday (December 13, 2025) accused Cambodian forces of killing four Thai soldiers during fresh clashes along the disputed Thailand-Cambodia border, sharply rejecting US President Donald Trump’s assertion that a ceasefire had been agreed to halt days of deadly fighting.
Thailand’s defence ministry said the soldiers were killed in border areas, pushing the death toll from the latest escalation to at least 24 this week, according to media reports.
What have been the implications of the conflict?
The violence has forced around 500,000 civilians to flee their homes on both sides of the border, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
The conflict centres on an over 800-kilometre-long frontier that has remained contentious for decades due to vague colonial-era demarcations dating back to French rule in Indochina.
Periodic flare-ups have erupted over the years, but the current clashes are among the most intense in recent memory.
What did Trump claim about the Thailand-Cambodia conflict?
Trump earlier claimed a truce had been reached after phone calls with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Friday (December 11, 2025).
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump said both sides had agreed to “CEASE all shooting” and return to a July peace accord brokered by the United States, China, and Malaysia, the current chair of ASEAN.
What did the Thai PM say about Trump’s claims?
However, Anutin flatly denied that any ceasefire was discussed. “Trump didn’t mention whether we should make a ceasefire,” the Thai leader told journalists, adding that the two leaders “didn’t discuss” such an agreement during their call.
Both Bangkok and Phnom Penh have blamed each other for reigniting hostilities. Thailand’s army said six people were wounded by Cambodian rocket fire on Saturday (December 12), while Cambodia’s information minister Neth Pheaktra accused Thai forces of expanding attacks to civilian areas and infrastructure.
A Thai navy spokesperson said the air force had “successfully destroyed” two Cambodian bridges allegedly used to transport weapons.
Was there a brief lull in the conflict?
Tensions had eased briefly after a July ceasefire, followed by an October joint declaration backed by Trump that sought to revive trade ties. Thailand later suspended the agreement after its soldiers were injured by landmines near the border.
Among displaced civilians, scepticism runs deep. “The last round of peace efforts didn’t work,” said Thai evacuee Kanyapat Saopria. Across the border, Cambodian evacuee Vy Rina said she was “sad” the fighting continued despite international intervention.
Anutin said Thailand would continue military operations until threats cease, while Hun Manet insisted Cambodia remains committed to peaceful dispute resolution, even as the border crisis shows no sign of immediate de-escalation.
