USA Commits $45 Million to End Ceasefire Between Cambodia and Thailand

USA Announces Significant Support for Cambodia and Thailand

The United States has announced a $45 million commitment to reinforce a fragile ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, negotiated by President Donald Trump. Michael DeSombre, the U.S. Assistant Secretary for East Asian Affairs, stated on Friday that $20 million will be allocated to combat drug trafficking and cyber fraud, which have become major concerns in Cambodia.

During a meeting with senior officials from Thailand and Cambodia, DeSombre noted that $15 million will support border stabilization efforts to assist those displaced by recent clashes, while $10 million will be directed towards landmine clearance and the removal of unexploded munitions. “The United States will continue to support the governments of Cambodia and Thailand in implementing the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreements and paving the way back to peace, prosperity, and stability for their people and for the entire region,” DeSombre declared in a statement.

This reference comes as part of an agreement signed between the two countries in the presence of Trump during his October visit to Malaysia as the leader of the ASEAN regional bloc. Clashes along the border between Cambodia and Thailand re-emerged last month after the collapse of a ceasefire negotiated in July, which was meant to end a previous conflict. The two Southeast Asian neighbors agreed to another ceasefire on December 27, halting 20 days of fighting that resulted in at least 101 deaths and displaced over half a million people.

Thailand accused Cambodia of violating this latest ceasefire, although it later retracted this accusation, stating that the Cambodian side had contacted them to explain that the alleged violation was due to accidental fire. Meanwhile, Cambodia has urged Thailand to withdraw troops from several border areas it claims as its own. The long-standing conflicts between the two nations stem from a dispute over the 800 km border delineation established during colonial times by France, where both sides claim territories and centuries-old temple ruins.

Trump included this conflict among several wars he claims to have resolved, insisting he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. Upon taking office, Trump drastically reduced foreign aid, including a months-long suspension of traditional demining assistance to Cambodia, with the administration arguing that funds will only be provided to support U.S. interests. American citizens have been targeted by financial fraud operations that take place in scam centers across Southeast Asia. Thailand is a long-standing U.S. ally, while the U.S. has sought to improve relations with Cambodia to try to draw it away from its strategic rival, China.