28-07-2025
US applauds Thailand, Cambodia ceasefire
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday welcomed a ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand that halts five days of border clashes that killed dozens and displaced tens of thousands of people.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim mediated the ceasefire. Malaysia is the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional bloc for 2025.
President Trump earlier warned that the U.S. likely would not proceed with trade deals with either country if hostilities continue.
'We solved it through trade. I said, 'I don't want to trade with anybody that's killing each other,'' Trump said.
Rubio said the U.S. is a party to the Malaysian-organized process to end the conflict.
'President Trump and I are committed to an immediate cessation of violence and expect the governments of Cambodia and Thailand to fully honor their commitments to end this conflict,' Rubio said in a statement.
'We are grateful to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for his leadership and for hosting the ceasefire talks. We urge all parties to follow through on their commitments. The United States will remain committed to and engaged in this U.S.-Malaysia-organized process to end this conflict.'
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai shook hands after mediation efforts took place in Kuala Lumpur.
Fighting broke out on Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Both sides blamed the other for starting the confrontation, and exchanged heavy artillery and rocket fire. At least 35 people were reportedly killed in the clashes and 260,000 displaced.
The immediate and unconditional ceasefire went into effect at midnight local time on Monday.
