Trump calls Cambodian, Thai leaders after conflict escalates

2025-11-15 11:42:17, Kosova & Bota CNA

US President Donald Trump said on Friday he thinks Thailand and Cambodia "will be fine" after he tried to mediate an escalation of the conflict on their border, but the Thai leader continued to demand an apology from Phnom Penh.

Thailand this week suspended a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement and demanded an apology over allegations that Cambodia had laid new landmines that injured Thai soldiers, which Cambodia denies.

Long-standing tensions over a disputed border between the two Southeast Asian nations erupted into five days of fighting in July, when at least 48 people were killed and about 300,000 were temporarily displaced, before Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim brokered a ceasefire.

"I spoke to the prime ministers of both countries and they're doing great. I think they're going to be fine," Trump told reporters Friday evening.

But Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Saturday that Bangkok would not abide by the agreement until Cambodia admitted its violation and apologized for the latest incident.

Anutin posted on Facebook after the conversation with Trump and Malaysia's Anwar that Thailand has the right to take any necessary action to defend its sovereignty and ensure the safety of its people and property from foreign threats.

He said he had asked Trump and Anwar, who has been mediating in the dispute, to tell Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to respect the agreement and not interfere with the removal of mines.

Hun Manet said in a Facebook post on Saturday that Phnom Penh will continue to implement the agreement and that he hopes both sides will continue to work together in accordance with the agreed principles and mechanisms.

Trump also committed to communicating with Malaysia on Friday, a White House official said.

Anwar posted on X that Cambodia and Thailand were ready to "continue to choose the space for dialogue and diplomatic efforts as an effective path towards resolution."/REL