Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, announced on Friday that he was set to speak with U.S. President Donald Trump later in the day, amid ongoing border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. The fighting has entered its fifth consecutive day, raising concerns over regional stability.
Anutin told reporters that the conversation with Trump was scheduled for around 9:20 p.m. local time (1420 GMT). The planned call follows escalating violence along the two nations’ 817-kilometre border, where intense fighting has caused significant casualties and widespread displacement.
Trump Seeks to Restore Ceasefire Efforts
President Trump has shown renewed interest in intervening to halt the clashes and restore the fragile ceasefire he helped broker earlier this year. Speaking for the third consecutive day on the matter, he pledged to personally reach out to both leaders in hopes of preventing further bloodshed.
At the Congressional Ball on Thursday evening, Trump highlighted his record as a global mediator and expressed confidence that peace could be restored. “We’ve solved eight wars. Think of it. Eight wars have been solved,” he told attendees. “Although Thailand and Cambodia—I think we are going to have to make a couple of phone calls—but we’ll get that one back on track.”
Heavy Fighting and Rising Casualties
The latest confrontation marks one of the most severe flare-ups since July, when a similar five-day conflict was halted following direct intervention from Trump. According to local authorities, at least 20 people have been killed and more than 200 others injured in recent days.
Hundreds of thousands of civilians have fled their homes as both sides exchanged heavy artillery and rocket fire across multiple locations. The prolonged hostilities have strained humanitarian efforts, with displaced families seeking safety in temporary shelters along the border.
Observers say the international community is watching closely as efforts intensify to de-escalate tensions and resume dialogue. Trump’s upcoming call with Anutin may prove pivotal in re-establishing the ceasefire and preventing further loss of life.
(with inputs from Reuters)
