It is unclear if Trump will be able to secure an immediate cessation of the hostilities this time.
Thailand’s army has made clear it wants to cripple Cambodia’s military capability and Anutin has given the army his backing to fully implement operations he said have been planned by the armed forces.
A top adviser to Hun Manet told Reuters this week that Phnom Penh was “ready at any time” for dialogue, while Thailand has rejected mediation and said Cambodia must show sincerity before any bilateral negotiations can happen.
Thailand said on Friday its top diplomat, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, had spoken with US counterpart Marco Rubio and relayed that Bangkok was committed to peace, but expressed concern about Cambodia’s “repeated and escalating patterns of attacks”.
Cambodian government spokesperson Pen Bona said he was not aware a call had been scheduled between Hun Manet and Trump. “But normally, our PM is always ready to talk,” he said.
Hun Manet in August nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
THAI PM SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT WILL DECIDE NEXT STEPS
Anutin has so far been less committal on a diplomatic solution. Earlier this week, when asked about Trump’s plan to intervene, he said it “cannot be as simple as picking up the phone”.
On Friday, he said Thailand’s next steps in the conflict with Cambodia were the prerogative of his government and the military.
“I think it’s just an update. He would probably ask how things are now,” Anutin said of the call with Trump.
“As for decisions and actions, those are matters for the Thai government, which has already given its support and delegated authority to the Thai armed forces to proceed.”
Facing a possible no-confidence motion amid turmoil in parliament over a process to amend the constitution, Anutin dissolved the house on Friday for an election expected in February, adding to uncertainty in Thailand at a time of armed conflict and prolonged economic malaise.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by the border fighting on both sides. At a shelter in the Thai border province of Surin, evacuees who gathered around a campfire early on Friday said the news that Thailand had a caretaker government was just one of many problems they face.
“There’s no certainty. The government has never cared about solving the border conflict anyway. I’ve always had to flee from the clashes a number of times,” said 60-year-old Yod Lengtharmdee.
