Thailand's caretaker prime minister has denied the existence of a ceasefire with Cambodia, despite Donald Trump announcing that both countries had agreed to halt fighting. As heavy clashes continued along the border, Anutin Charnvirakul said Thai forces would keep fighting until they felt no more threats. Cambodia announced it had suspended all border crossings with Thailand.
Thai forces carried out strikes including with fighter jets, while Cambodia fired rocket barrages. The Thai army reported at least two civilians seriously injured by Cambodian fire. The latest fighting was triggered by a clash on 7 December that wounded two Thai soldiers and appeared to violate an earlier ceasefire promoted by Trump in July. More than two dozen people have been killed over the past week, with over half a million displaced.
Trump's ceasefire announcement on Friday was met with a tepid reaction. Thailand's foreign minister said Trump's remarks did not reflect an accurate understanding of the situation. Neither Thai nor Cambodian leaders referenced the agreement in their own statements. Anutin said peace would depend on Cambodia ending its attacks first.
The roots of the conflict lie in competing territorial claims stemming from a 1907 map created under French colonial rule, which Thailand maintains is inaccurate. Tensions were aggravated by a 1962 International Court of Justice ruling awarding sovereignty to Cambodia.
