The United States has announced massive financial aid to Thailand and Cambodia to cement the October Kuala Lumpur peace accords. The $45 million package is intended for border stabilization, demining and assistance to hundreds of thousands of displaced persons.
The United States on Friday announced $45 million in aid to Cambodia and Thailand to shore up a fragile ceasefire. They will be intended for the fight against cyber fraud and drug trafficking, demining and assistance to displaced persons. TASR informs about it according to the report of the AFP agency.
- The US will provide $45 million in aid to Cambodia and Thailand.
- The aim is to strengthen the ceasefire and regional stability.
- The money will go to the fight against drugs and fraud, as well as demining.
- Part of the aid will also go to displaced persons.
- Fighting between the countries resumed, despite the peace agreement.
During a visit to Thailand and Cambodia, the State Department’s top official for East Asian affairs, Michael DeSombre, discussed how the US can contribute to strengthening the ceasefire. DeSombre said the United States would provide $20 million to fight drug trafficking and cyber fraud. At the same time, 15 million will be earmarked for aid to persons who left their homes due to the recent fighting, and ten million for demining.
Despite the cease-fire, fighting resumed in December
“The United States will continue to support the governments of Cambodia and Thailand as they implement the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords and pave the way for a return to peace, prosperity, and stability for the people of the region,” DeSombre said in a statement. He was referring to the agreement the countries signed in October in the presence of US President Donald Trump during his trip to Malaysia.
In December, fighting resumed despite the agreement, but both sides again concluded a ceasefire after three weeks. The conflict between Cambodia and Thailand stems from the colonial era and the delineation of their 800-kilometer border at the time.
