Thailand and Cambodia Agree ‘Immediate and Unconditional Ceasefire’Putrajaya, Malaysia, 28 Jul (ONA) — The Prime Ministers of Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to
implement an immediate ceasefire following days of deadly border
clashes, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today after
hosting talks between the two nations.
The “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” is set to take effect at
midnight (1700 GMT), Anwar said. It was agreed upon at a special
meeting between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai interim
Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai in the Malaysian administrative
capital Putrajaya.
Representatives from the United Sates and China also participated in
the talks.
In a joint statement, the ceasefire was described as “a vital first
step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and
security.”
Military leaders from both countries are expected to meet for talks
tomorrow (Tuesday).
A meeting of the General Border Committee, a bilateral body for
cooperation on border issues, is planned for 4 August 2025.
Both sides also expressed their willingness to resume direct
communication between their governments.
Heavy fighting erupted between the two neighbouring countries along their more than 800-kilometre border. The conflict has
been simmering for decades.
Both sides have reported casualties and injuries, and more than
200,000 people have fled the region. Overnight, heavy fighting was
reported again.
What exactly triggered the escalation remains unclear.
International pressure on Bangkok and Phnom Penh to end the fighting
had been growing ahead of the meeting, with US President Donald Trump
holding phone calls with both premiers to push for an end to the
conflict.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar had already spoken with his
counterparts from Thailand and Cambodia shortly after the fighting
began and offered himself as a mediator.
Malaysia holds the chair of Association of South-East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) this year (2025).
Since the beginning of the clashes, both sides have accused each
other of triggering the violence.
Civilian buildings, including a hospital and a supermarket, were also
hit in the attacks. Thailand used fighter jets to target military
positions, while Cambodia fired rockets across the border.
The dispute further escalated after a shootout between soldiers from
both countries at the end of May, in which a Cambodian soldier was
killed.
Recently, Cambodia’s Ministry of Defence accused Thailand of also
using chemical weapons. The Foreign Ministry in Bangkok denied this,
calling them “baseless accusations” and “disinformation” aimed at
deliberately undermining Thailand’s reputation in the international
community.
Meanwhile, the number of Cambodians living in Thailand who want to
return home is increasing. According to the Ministry of Defence in
Phnom Penh, more than 400,000 migrant workers have already crossed
the border because they no longer feel safe in Thailand. Many more
are likely to follow.
— Ends/Khalid