U.S. Calls for Immediate Halt to Cambodia-Thailand Border Clashes
The State Department released a statement Sunday pressing both Southeast Asian nations to take immediate action. "The United States continues to call on Cambodia and Thailand to end hostilities, withdraw heavy weapons, cease emplacement of landmines, and fully implement the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords, which include mechanisms to accelerate humanitarian demining and address border issues," the statement declared.
American officials expressed support for emergency diplomatic efforts scheduled for Monday, when Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers will convene "to support Cambodia and Thailand fully honoring their commitments to end this conflict."
The bilateral peace agreement, signed during October's ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was witnessed by US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. However, the accord collapsed after Thai military personnel suffered severe casualties from a landmine blast in a frontier province.
Thai officials report 22 fatalities—21 soldiers and one civilian—resulting from the sustained fighting. Cambodia's Interior Ministry has documented 18 civilian deaths with 78 additional injuries on their side.
Thailand reported a separate toll of 33 civilian deaths attributed to "collateral effects of the situation."
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