The Thai Prime Minister confirmed he will speak with President Trump by phone tonight (December 12).
On the morning of December 12, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed that he had a scheduled phone call with US President Donald Trump that evening.
Speaking to reporters, Prime Minister Anutin said the call with the US President was scheduled for around 9:20 p.m. local time (2:20 p.m. GMT). However, the Thai leader was cautious about the outcome of the call, suggesting it might "just be an update on the situation" and that Trump would likely inquire about current developments.
On the US side, President Donald Trump is demonstrating his determination to intervene again to end the fighting. Speaking on the evening of December 11th, Trump confidently declared that he would get the ceasefire agreement "back on track" through phone calls with leaders of both countries. He also reiterated his track record of having "resolved eight wars" as a guarantee of his mediating role.
On the Cambodian side, government spokesperson Pen Bona said that they had not received information about the schedule of a phone call between Prime Minister Hun Manet and Mr. Trump, but affirmed that the country's leader "is always ready for dialogue."
On the ground, the fighting shows no signs of abating. Reuters reports ongoing clashes in multiple locations along the 817-kilometer border. This is considered the most intense conflict since July, leaving at least 20 dead and more than 260 injured. Both sides continue to level harsh accusations against each other.
Prime Minister Anutin affirmed that the next steps in the conflict would be decided by the Thai government and military. Earlier, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow also spoke with his US counterpart Marco Rubio, reaffirming the commitment to peace but expressing concern about escalating attacks from Cambodia.
Hundreds of thousands of people on both sides of the border have been evacuated to escape bombing. At a shelter in Surin province (Thailand), residents expressed weariness and anxiety over the prolonged conflict, compounded by the recent political instability in Bangkok following the dissolution of Parliament.