The United States has issued a strong call for both Thailand and Cambodia to “cease hostilities immediately,” as relentless fighting along their contested border continues into a third day. The call comes amid a mounting humanitarian crisis — with civilians caught in cross-fire, large-scale displacement, and increasing casualties.
The renewed fighting — triggered by a skirmish earlier this week — has killed at least a dozen people on both sides and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes across border provinces.
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he will personally make telephone calls to the leaders of both nations in an effort to revive a ceasefire agreement he helped broker earlier in 2025.
What’s happening on the ground — casualties, displacement, and broken promises
Clashes resumed on Monday along the long-disputed 817-kilometre border, shattering the fragile peace achieved just months earlier under a truce witnessed by the U.S. and regional mediators.
- The latest round of violence has resulted in at least 10 fatalities and many more wounded. Both sides have accused each other of targeting civilian populations.
- More than 500,000 civilians — men, women, and children — have been forced to seek safety in shelters, schools, temples, and hastily-prepared camps.
- Among those displaced are entire villages; officials on both sides warn of a growing humanitarian emergency if shelling continues and safe corridors do not materialize.
Amid the chaos, both governments remain defiant: Thai authorities have justified recent airstrikes as responses to alleged Cambodian rocket and drone attacks, while Cambodian leaders describe their retaliation as self-defense. Neither side has accepted blame, and both refuse to consider third-party mediation under current conditions.
U.S. stance and diplomatic pressure: can Washington act as mediator again?
The revival of violence has placed the United States back in the spotlight — and under pressure — to salvage the peace accord it helped broker earlier this year. After the July ceasefire and October peace pact signed under U.S. and Malaysian auspices, hopes were high that hostilities were ending.
Now, with attacks continuing and civilians suffering, Washington has renewed calls for immediate de-escalation. U.S. officials, including Marco Rubio, have urged both capitals to abide by the terms of the 2025 peace agreement: withdrawal of heavy weaponry, clearing of land-mines, protection of civilians, and prompt humanitarian access.
Yet Thailand’s foreign minister has already said that any negotiations must begin with Cambodia first — rejecting third-party mediation. Phnom Penh, by contrast, says it remains open to dialogue if attacks stop.
At a rally in Pennsylvania, President Trump insisted he could still broker peace — echoing the months-long diplomatic push that led to the earlier truce. Whether his outreach can overcome entrenched mistrust remains uncertain.
Human cost mounting — beyond displaced numbers
Civilians caught in this sudden eruption of conflict face immediate and painful consequences:
- Families uprooted overnight, fleeing with few belongings and uncertain shelter
- Overcrowded and under-resourced camps that struggle to provide clean water, sanitation, food, and medical care — especially concerning as some regions enter cooler, rainy weather
- Schools shuttered, local economies disrupted, and seasonal livelihoods — such as farming — abandoned as fields and homes lie in or near conflict zones
Human rights organisations warn of the risk of further civilian casualties, displacement fatigue, and long-term trauma if the fighting continues.
What’s at stake — peace, stability, and regional trust
The relapse into violence on a border long marred by disputes over territory, historical claims, and cultural heritage puts more at risk than just bilateral ties.
- Regional stability: Renewed conflict threatens broader ASEAN unity and could embolden further militarization along borders across Southeast Asia.
- Humanitarian disaster: With half a million people displaced and no clear end in sight, the risk of a protracted refugee crisis looms, straining local governments and aid agencies.
- Diplomatic credibility: The collapse of the U.S.-backed peace process undermines faith in external mediation and may fuel scepticism among local populations about foreign involvement.
- Economic repercussions: Cross-border trade, tourism, and investment — already fragile due to global economic headwinds — may take a heavy hit, affecting livelihoods on both sides.
Analysts warn that without a swift and sincere ceasefire — backed by international monitoring and robust humanitarian corridors — the border crisis could deepen beyond repair.
What to watch — key indicators in the coming days
- Whether Thailand and Cambodia agree to an immediate ceasefire and allow third-party mediation
- Humanitarian access: can displaced populations access adequate shelter, food, medical care, and safe return routes?
- Regional and international pressure: will other countries or organisations intervene to broker peace, or will diplomatic fatigue set in?
- Long-term settlement: will the underlying territorial dispute — over land, historic sites, and borders — be addressed, or will the conflict remain cyclical?
For now, thousands remain displaced, families remain on edge, and the threat of escalating violence looms large. Unless diplomacy prevails, the borderlands may become a humanitarian fault line — one that could reshape Southeast Asia’s security and human landscape for years to come.
