Amid criticism over his attempt to leverage trade talks to broker peace between Thailand and Cambodia, former U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) expressed optimism about securing a ceasefire between the two Southeast Asian nations. He described the negotiations as “an easy one” when compared to his past claims of helping resolve the India-Pakistan conflict.
Speaking to reporters during a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump reiterated his approach of using economic pressure to bring an end to the escalating border clashes.
“We’re dealing with Thailand, and we do a lot of trade with Thailand and Cambodia, and yet I’m reading they’re killing each other. They’re fighting. They’re in a war. And I say this should be an easy one for me because I’ve settled with India and Pakistan… Serbia and Kosovo were going at it,” Trump said.
According to Media, despite Trump’s remarks about the countries agreeing to discuss peace, Cambodia and Thailand accused each other of launching fresh artillery attacks on Sunday — just hours after Trump’s announcement of a possible ceasefire.
The renewed violence came shortly after leaders from both countries had reportedly agreed to engage in talks following calls from Trump on Saturday.
CNN reported that the two nations are locked in a long-standing territorial dispute that dates back more than a century, rooted in colonial-era border demarcations set by France.
Trump recounted his conversations with the Prime Minister of Cambodia and the acting Prime Minister of Thailand, claiming:
“I said, we’re not going to make a trade deal unless you settle the war… And I spoke to both of the Prime Ministers, and I think by the time I got off, they wanted to settle now.”
He also cited his self-claimed diplomatic success in mediating between India and Pakistan, referring to the recent escalation following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 civilians dead. India responded with precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
Trump has previously claimed that he played a role in brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, saying his trade leverage influenced the outcome. He stated the situation was “really getting ready to go at it.”
However, Indian officials maintain that it was Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) who contacted his Indian counterpart to request a ceasefire, which then led to de-escalation.
“Getting those things settled — if I can do it, and if I can use trade to do that — it’s my honour,” Trump added, reinforcing his belief in trade diplomacy.
Meanwhile, four days into the worst clashes in over a decade between Thailand and Cambodia, the death toll has surpassed 30, including 13 civilians in Thailand and eight in Cambodia. More than 200,000 people have been evacuated from the border regions as tensions continue. (Sources)
