Thai and Cambodian leaders have agreed to a ceasefire in their most lethal border conflict in over a decade, following diplomatic intervention by the United States, China, and regional powers.
Thailand’s Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet met on Monday in Malaysia for high-level talks hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The dialogue was facilitated under Anwar’s capacity as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with Washington and Beijing dispatching envoys to support negotiations.
Speaking after the meeting, Anwar confirmed that both sides had “agreed to a ceasefire as of midnight.”
The agreement marks the first formal diplomatic engagement since clashes reignited on July 24. The renewed violence has killed at least 36 people and forced more than 150,000 civilians to flee their homes along the 800-kilometre (500-mile) shared border.
Over the weekend, tensions escalated sharply with reports of heavy artillery shelling and aerial strikes. Both countries have accused each other of targeting civilian areas, further straining already fragile relations.
Ahead of the talks, U.S. President Donald Trump said the leaders of both nations had agreed to “quickly work out a ceasefire.” Trump had held separate calls with Mr Phumtham and Mr Hun Manet on Saturday, warning that the United States would withhold trade deals as long as the conflict continued.
“We’re not going to make a trade deal unless you settle the war,” Trump said Sunday, claiming both leaders expressed willingness to negotiate after speaking directly with him.
Before departing for the negotiations, Mr Phumtham questioned Cambodia’s sincerity, noting that fighting persisted into early Monday. He told reporters the focus would be on halting hostilities and upholding Thailand’s sovereignty.
Thailand has insisted that any ceasefire must include the withdrawal of troops, a cessation of lethal force, and a commitment to resolving disputes through bilateral mechanisms. Cambodia, on the other hand, supports an unconditional end to fighting.
The current crisis stems from unresolved disputes tied to colonial-era treaties and maps that have long complicated efforts to define the countries’ boundaries. Though the border has remained relatively calm since a deadly confrontation in 2011, the recent flare-up has raised fears of a broader conflict.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that American officials were on the ground in Malaysia “to assist these peace efforts.”
Cambodian leadership also confirmed China’s involvement, noting that the regional power, both countries’ largest trading partner and a major supporter of Phnom Penh—was expected to participate in the process.
“Both President Trump and I remain engaged with our respective counterparts for each country and are monitoring the situation very closely,” Rubio said in a statement. “We want this conflict to end as soon as possible.”
With Trump’s August 1 tariff deadline looming, trade-dependent Thailand is keen to avoid antagonising Washington. The Thai government has been in talks with the U.S. to lower a proposed 36% levy on its exports.
President Trump has previously taken credit for helping to de-escalate other international tensions, including earlier clashes between India and Pakistan. While India has denied U.S. involvement in those efforts, Pakistan has acknowledged Washington’s role.
