Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that Cambodia and Thailand will soon begin high-level talks in Malaysia to work towards an immediate ceasefire amid escalating border clashes.
“Cambodia and Thailand are scheduled to begin high-level talks in Malaysia shortly in hopes of achieving an immediate ceasefire. State Department officials are on the ground in Malaysia to assist these peace efforts. Both President Donald Trump and I remain engaged with our respective counterparts for each country and are monitoring the situation very closely. We want this conflict to end as soon as possible,” Rubio said in a press statement.
Rubio held separate phone calls on Sunday with Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, urging both nations to de-escalate tensions and agree to a ceasefire over their ongoing border dispute.
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said, “Secretary Rubio reiterated President Trump’s desire for peace and the importance of an immediate ceasefire. The United States is prepared to facilitate future discussions in order to ensure peace and stability between Thailand and Cambodia.”
Responding to Trump’s appeal for calm, the Thai Foreign Ministry said that Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai had spoken with the US President and conveyed that Thailand agreed in principle to a ceasefire but sought a display of “sincere intentions” from Cambodia.
Phumtham also asked Trump to tell the Cambodian side that Thailand wanted bilateral dialogue at the earliest to outline measures for a ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Meanwhile, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Sunday reiterated his country’s readiness for an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” with Thailand.
Border clashes between the two nations began on Thursday, with each side accusing the other of violating international law.