Cambodia and Thailand agree to ceasefire and de-escalation
Cambodia and Thailand have reached a ceasefire agreement and committed to easing tensions after several days of deadly border clashes, officials announced on Monday following talks in Malaysia.
The long-running territorial dispute between the two Southeast Asian neighbors, which has roots going back to the French colonial era, intensified in late May and escalated into a military conflict last week. However, a top-level meeting hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday resulted in a truce agreement and a path toward normalization.
Anwar, who led the mediation efforts, said the ceasefire would take effect at midnight local time. Both countries also pledged to convene meetings between military commanders on Thursday and reconvene a joint border monitoring committee in early August to establish a formal mechanism for verifying compliance with the agreement.
Anwar also offered to provide observers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which Malaysia currently chairs, and organize a broader monitoring mission with other ASEAN members to support the ceasefire.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai affirmed their countries’ commitment to a peaceful resolution at a joint press conference with Anwar. Manet highlighted the toll of the fighting on civilians, noting that approximately 300,000 people, roughly even split between the two countries, were displaced during the escalation.
All three leaders expressed gratitude to US President Donald Trump and the Chinese government for their roles in facilitating the agreement. On Saturday, Trump said he warned both nations that there will be no progress in their trade negotiations with Washington while hostilities continue. China had previously pledged to “play a constructive role in promoting de-escalation.”
Since the violence erupted last Thursday, at least 35 people, some of them civilians, have been killed. While both sides accused the other of sparking the clashes, Monday’s agreement marks the first coordinated step toward ending the worst crisis between the two in a decade.
