Foreign Minister Sihasak expressed disappointment with the United States, a longstanding ally, for remarks that hurt Thai feelings. He pointed out that Trump does not understand the Thai-Cambodian border situation and that a ceasefire is not possible when Cambodia says one thing but does another.
On 13 Dec 2025 GMT+7, Mr. Sihasak Puangketkaew, Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a press briefing regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's social media post, stating that there are many points suggesting the U.S. does not understand the true situation or may have received misleading information. The first concern for Thailand is the statement that "the incident where Thai soldiers stepped on landmines and were seriously injured was an accident," which contradicts clear facts showing that Cambodia laid new landmines not just once but more than seven times, confirmed by ASEAN observers.
The Foreign Minister added that besides the landmine incident, there was an event today where Cambodia fired BM-21 rockets into civilian areas of Sisaket province. He affirmed that this was not accidental but intentional. However, Thailand's military response has been proportional and not excessive.
The Foreign Minister further stated that as Thailand is a friendly nation and the oldest treaty ally of the United States in the region, he feels disappointed that such statements hurt the feelings of the Thai people and the country. He emphasized that Thailand and the U.S. have long cooperated as allies based on shared security interests.
Regarding the Cambodian Prime Minister's request for satellite verification of the clash incidents to establish facts, Mr. Sihasak said there is no problem with this and requested that the landmine issue also be examined. Thailand is ready and has previously called for a fact-finding mission.
On trade negotiations with the U.S., Mr. Sihasak thanked the U.S. President for allowing talks at the working level to continue, affirming that trade matters are separate and the Thai-Cambodian border situation should not be linked to trade negotiations.
The Foreign Minister expressed concern over Thai nationals stranded at the Poipet checkpoint who wish to return to Thailand due to safety concerns. While Cambodia has allowed Cambodian nationals to return, the problem is that Cambodia refuses to let Thais return. He said this is a humanitarian issue, and the Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen’s post suspending all border crossings clearly violates human rights and humanitarian principles under international conventions.
Mr. Sihasak addressed the ceasefire topic mentioned by the U.S. President, stating that a ceasefire does not happen easily or simply by desire but must come from the readiness of all parties. The phone conversation between the Thai Prime Minister and the U.S. President did not include discussions about a ceasefire. He understands the U.S. President may hope for a ceasefire, but a sustainable ceasefire requires both sides to be prepared and must involve military-level assessments and talks. Cambodia's continued firing while calling for a ceasefire is meaningless and represents saying one thing and doing another, aiming to create an advantage on the international stage. Thailand must clarify this stance in international forums.