The State Department called on Cambodian and Thai forces to cease hostilities, as fighting between the two sides threatens a ceasefire backed by President Trump earlier this year.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. is “concerned” by the fighting in a Monday press release. Combat between the two sides restarted Sunday after a confrontation left two Thai soldiers injured, with tens of thousands of civilians fleeing the border between the countries.
Rubio pushed for the “immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians, and for both sides to return to the de-escalatory measures outlined in the October 26 Kuala Lumpur Peace Affords,” signed by Cambod…
The State Department called on Cambodian and Thai forces to cease hostilities, as fighting between the two sides threatens a ceasefire backed by President Trump earlier this year.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. is “concerned” by the fighting in a Monday press release. Combat between the two sides restarted Sunday after a confrontation left two Thai soldiers injured, with tens of thousands of civilians fleeing the border between the countries.
Rubio pushed for the “immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians, and for both sides to return to the de-escalatory measures outlined in the October 26 Kuala Lumpur Peace Affords,” signed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
The deal was signed at the urging of Trump, who threatened to withhold trade privileges from the two Southeast Asian nations, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, which have occurred for centuries, ramped up in July with fighting over disputed territory. The conflict lasted five days, resulted in dozens dead on both sides and forced more than 100,000 civilians to evacuate the border region.
Charnvirakul said Tuesday that his government “will support all kinds of military operations as planned earlier,” which he added are necessary to protect the country’s sovereignty and safety.
Meanwhile, former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen — the father of the current prime minister and the president of the Senate — said Tuesday on Telegram that his country “firmly adheres to resolving disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law.”
The Associated Press contributed.
Tags Anwar Ibrahim Donald Trump Marco Rubio
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