President Donald Trump placed urgent calls to Thailand and Cambodia after the two nations exchanged fresh fire along their disputed border. The White House confirmed the outreach as part of efforts to preserve a shaky peace agreement.
The original truce, co-signed by Trump on October 26 during his Asia trip, was a diplomatic moment he had praised as worthy of international recognition. But optimism faded quickly when Thailand withdrew from the deal after a landmine explosion injured its personnel.
By Wednesday, tensions escalated further with both governments accusing each other of new attacks. Cambodia reported one civilian fatality during the renewed skirmishes.
Malaysia was also contacted by Trump, as the country has been a mediator throughout the conflict. Kuala Lumpur hosted the peace ceremony and continues to help both sides navigate the fragile diplomatic framework.
The deadly summer conflict that preceded the truce lasted five days and left 43 people dead, forcing around 300,000 civilians to evacuate. The root of the conflict ā a century-old border disagreement ā has proven difficult to resolve despite repeated mediation efforts.
