US President Donald Trump has announced that Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to halt fighting along their disputed border, with the ceasefire taking effect “this evening”.

Trump made the announcement following separate telephone conversations with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, after several days of deadly border clashes that have left at least 20 people dead and displaced nearly 500,000 people.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said both leaders had “agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me.”

“Both countries are ready for PEACE and continued trade with the United States of America,” he added.

Neither leader has officially confirmed the agreement. However, speaking earlier after his call with Trump, Prime Minister Charnvirakul said a ceasefire would only be possible if “Cambodia will cease fire, withdraw its troops, and remove all landmines it has planted.”

The long-running border dispute escalated sharply on July 24, when Cambodia reportedly launched rocket attacks into Thailand, prompting Thai air strikes in response. After days of heavy fighting, the two Southeast Asian neighbours agreed to an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” brokered by Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, though tensions continued.

Violence has since spread to six provinces in northeastern Thailand and five provinces in northern and northwestern Cambodia.

Thailand and Cambodia have contested sovereignty along their 800-kilometre shared border for more than a century, dating back to borders drawn during the French colonial occupation of Cambodia.

Source: BBC