Trump’s Leverage: Can Presidential Calls Reinforce a Broken Truce?

The effectiveness of US President Donald Trump’s diplomatic leverage is being tested as he makes urgent calls to Thailand and Cambodia, attempting to reinforce a broken peace truce. The failure of the accord, confirmed by a landmine blast and renewed clashes that killed a civilian, has put the region on edge.
The peace agreement, celebrated during Trump’s October 26th Asia tour, collapsed when Thailand suspended its participation following the landmine incident. This rapidly led to a dangerous cycle of mutual accusations and the tragic confirmation of one civilian fatality in Cambodia.
The White House verified that President Trump spoke directly with the leadership, using his influence to demand immediate restraint and a return to the established dialogue. The presidential intervention is a clear attempt to use the US’s power to prevent the border skirmishes from turning into full-scale conflict.
The urgency is driven by the catastrophic consequences of the previous summer conflict: 43 deaths and 300,000 people displaced. This history underscores the critical need for the US to successfully stabilize the situation immediately.
Trump is coordinating his diplomatic push with Malaysia, the essential regional mediator that hosted the original truce signing. This multilateral effort is key to ensuring that the diplomatic pressure is unified and effective in addressing the century-old, deeply entrenched dispute.