US calls on Thailand, Cambodia to release detained soldiers
Washington urges swift action on regional ceasefire commitments
The United States has turned up the pressure on Thailand and Cambodia to start the release of 18 detained soldiers without delay, following a new ceasefire agreement signed in the presence of US President Donald Trump.
A senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington expects swift action now that both Southeast Asian nations have committed to a new phase of cooperation.
“Our expectation is that the process, with respect to all of the commitments, begin as soon as they were signed.”
The ceasefire deal, signed on Sunday, October 26, aimed to reduce tensions in the region and was endorsed at a high-level meeting that included both Thai and Cambodian leaders, with Trump attending as a key international observer.
While details of the agreement have not been fully disclosed, the release of the 18 soldiers is seen as a crucial step in easing ongoing military friction between the two neighbouring countries.
The soldiers, whose detention had raised international concern, are believed to be held in a disputed border zone. Their release is expected to be an early test of the ceasefire’s effectiveness.
The State Department official made it clear that the US will be monitoring the situation closely and expects both parties to act quickly, reported Bangkok Post.
The remarks came just days ahead of Trump’s anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea on Thursday, October 30.
In the same briefing, the official also reaffirmed Washington’s unwavering stance on Taiwan.
“US policy on Taiwan hasn’t changed one bit,” the official said, quashing speculation of any shift amid rising regional tensions.
The US also reiterated its position on North Korea, stating that denuclearisation remains the ultimate goal. No further comments were made on how Washington plans to approach Pyongyang in the coming months.
As diplomatic manoeuvres intensify in Asia, the coming days are expected to reveal how seriously Thailand and Cambodia will take Washington’s call for action, and whether the ceasefire agreement will hold under pressure.
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