Amidst ongoing clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, former U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed to have brokered a ceasefire, drawing parallels to his previous assertions of resolving the India-Pakistan conflict. Trump stated on Sunday that he spoke with the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia, warning them that trade deals would be contingent on ceasing hostilities. He suggested that his intervention led to both countries agreeing to negotiate a ceasefire.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet confirmed that Cambodia agreed to pursue an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" following Trump's conversation. He tasked his deputy, Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, to coordinate with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and engage with Thailand's Foreign Minister to implement the ceasefire. Thailand expressed cautious support, with Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai acknowledging the agreement in principle but stressing the need for "sincere intention" from Cambodia. The Thai Foreign Ministry called for swift bilateral talks to discuss concrete steps toward a peaceful resolution.
However, reports indicate that fighting has continued despite these claims. The clashes, which have been ongoing for several days, have resulted in at least 33 deaths and displaced over 168,000 people. Cambodia has accused Thai troops of securing territory, while Thailand has responded with artillery strikes. The UN Security Council has called for an emergency meeting to address the situation.
Trump's claim of resolving the Thailand-Cambodia conflict echoes his previous assertions regarding India and Pakistan. He has repeatedly stated that he "settled" the conflict between the two South Asian nations, suggesting that trade talks were used as leverage. In the context of Thailand and Cambodia, Trump stated he warned the prime ministers of both countries that no trade deal would move forward unless they stopped the fighting. He added, "This should be an easy one for me because I settled India and Pakistan... By the time I got off the call, I think they want to settle now".
Trump has claimed that he prevented a potential nuclear war between India and Pakistan. He stated that the conflict was "going very badly" and that he intervened through trade, saying, "We're not going to talk to you about trade unless you get this thing settled".
However, this claim has been disputed. India has maintained that the understanding on the cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was reached following direct talks between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two militaries. Furthermore, the Indian External Affairs Ministry stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly told Trump that there was no mediation or quid pro quo for a trade deal between New Delhi and Washington over stopping the conflict with Pakistan.
The situation between India and Pakistan escalated following a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. India retaliated with military actions, including targeted strikes on terror hubs inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan responded with attempted drone and missile attacks, which were intercepted by India's air defense systems.
Despite the discrepancies between Trump's claims and the accounts of other parties involved, he has repeatedly asserted his role in de-escalating both the India-Pakistan conflict and, now, the Thailand-Cambodia dispute. He has framed his interventions as a matter of using trade to settle wars, stating, "If I can use trade to settle wars, then it's my honour".
