Michael George DeSombre, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, will visit Phnom Penh on January 10, as the US pledged $45 million to contribute to resolving disputes between Cambodia and Thailand.
In a briefing this afternoon, January 9, DeSombre said he had met with Thais official in Bangkok today to discuss the implementation of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord and broader efforts to promote shared interest in a safer, stronger and more prosperous Indo-Pacific.
He said the US will continue to support the Cambodian-Thai governments as they implement the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords and pave the way for a return to peace, prosperity and stability for their people and the region.
“To help achieve this, I am proud to announce that we will be providing $15 million for border stabilisation to help communities recover and to support displaced persons, $10 million in demining and unexploded ordnance clearing operations, and $20 million for initiatives that will help both countries combat scam operations and drug trafficking, among many other programmes,” he said.
According to DeSombre, the restoration of peace at the Thai-Cambodia border opens new opportunities for the US to deepen its work with both countries to promote regional stability and advance its interests in a safer, stronger and more prosperous Indo-Pacific.
He welcomed the latest ceasefire with direct messages of support from President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He also welcomed the release of 18 captured Cambodian soldiers on December 31.
“Thailand’s release of 18 Cambodian soldiers marked a critical step toward lasting peace,” he said.
