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Thailand and Cambodia agree to ‘immediate and unconditional’ ceasefire Thailand and Cambodia agree to ‘immediate and unconditional’ ceasefire
(about 4 hours later)
Malaysian PM says countries have reached ‘common understanding’ to halt the worst fighting in a decadeMalaysian PM says countries have reached ‘common understanding’ to halt the worst fighting in a decade
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire after talks in Malaysia that aimed to halt the worst fighting between the neighbouring countries in more than a decade.Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire after talks in Malaysia that aimed to halt the worst fighting between the neighbouring countries in more than a decade.
The Malaysian prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, who hosted leaders from both countries, said the two sides had reached a “common understanding”, including an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” from midnight local time on Monday. At least 38 people have been killed and more than 300,000 displaced by fighting that erupted on the countries’ shared border on Thursday.
“This is a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security,” he said. The Malaysian prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, who hosted leaders from both countries, said the two sides had reached a “common understanding”. He said this was “a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security.”
At least 35 people have been killed and more than 300,000 displaced by fighting that erupted on the countries’ shared border on Thursday. The negotiations took place less than 48 hours after Donald Trump announced he had called the two countries’ leaders, warning that trade negotiations would be paused until the fighting stopped. Thailand and Cambodia face the prospect of a 36% US tariff from 1 August.
The peace negotiations took place less than 48 hours after Donald Trump announced he had called the two countries’ leaders, warning that trade negotiations would be paused until the fighting stopped. Thailand and Cambodia face the prospect of a 36% US tariff from 1 August. Trump took credit for the ceasefire deal, which was due to come into effect at midnight on Monday local time, after five days of clashes.
The talks were held in Malaysia, which is the current chair of the regional bloc, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and were attended by officials from the US and China. The talks were attended by officials from the US and China. Malaysia is the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional bloc.
The Cambodian prime minister, Hun Manet, told the media he hoped and “confidently” believed that the outcome of the meeting would “provide a lot of opportunities”, for hundreds of thousands of people to return to their homes, for the two countries to stop fighting and to rebuild trust and cooperation.The Cambodian prime minister, Hun Manet, told the media he hoped and “confidently” believed that the outcome of the meeting would “provide a lot of opportunities”, for hundreds of thousands of people to return to their homes, for the two countries to stop fighting and to rebuild trust and cooperation.
“Today we had a very good meeting and very good results that hope to stop immediately the fighting that has caused many lives [to be] lost, injuries and also caused a lot of displacement of people,” he said.“Today we had a very good meeting and very good results that hope to stop immediately the fighting that has caused many lives [to be] lost, injuries and also caused a lot of displacement of people,” he said.
Thailand’s acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, said the agreement “reflects Thailand’s desire for a peaceful resolution”, adding that his country had agreed to a ceasefire that would “be carried out successfully in good faith by both sides”.Thailand’s acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, said the agreement “reflects Thailand’s desire for a peaceful resolution”, adding that his country had agreed to a ceasefire that would “be carried out successfully in good faith by both sides”.
Both leaders thanked Anwar, the US and China, with Hun Manet thanking Trump for his “decisive mediation” on Saturday. Trump declared himself the “President of PEACE” in a post on his social media platform Truth Social after the ceasefire announcement.
“I am pleased to announce that, after the involvement of President Donald J. Trump, both Countries have reached a CEASEFIRE and PEACE. Congratulations to all! By ending this War, we have saved thousands of lives. I have instructed my Trade Team to restart negotiations on Trade. I have now ended many Wars in just six months – I am proud to be the President of PEACE!” he wrote.The White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, said Trump “made this happen”. “Give him the Nobel Peace Prize!” she posted on X.
The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said he and Trump were “committed to an immediate cessation of violence” and expected the governments of Cambodia and Thailand to “fully honor their commitments to end this conflict”.
The Thai and Cambodian leaders thanked Anwar, the US and China. Hun Manet thanked Trump for his “decisive mediation” on Saturday, and China “for always supporting, encouraging both sides to seek ceasefire and actively participating in supporting this special meeting”.
Hun Manet said earlier that the meeting had been “co-organised by the United States and with participation of China”. China has strong economic links to Thailand and Cambodia and is a close ally of the latter.Hun Manet said earlier that the meeting had been “co-organised by the United States and with participation of China”. China has strong economic links to Thailand and Cambodia and is a close ally of the latter.
Phumtham later told reporters that Trump had praised Thailand for “being a good role model in maintaining peace”, adding that he also commended Trump for the role he had played in finding a resolution to the conflict.
“I believe that Thais will benefit from this,” Phumtham said, adding that he hoped the developments would help Thailand reach a trade deal.
Despite the ceasefire announcement, the Thai authorities have warned people who have evacuated from border areas not to return home until further notice, and the news has been met with a mix of hope and some scepticism among affected communities.
Under Monday’s agreement, Anwar said regional commanders from the Thai and Cambodian military would meet at 7am on Tuesday, and that a meeting would also be held on 4 August by the general border committee, a body established by Thailand and Cambodia to facilitate negotiations over their shared border.Under Monday’s agreement, Anwar said regional commanders from the Thai and Cambodian military would meet at 7am on Tuesday, and that a meeting would also be held on 4 August by the general border committee, a body established by Thailand and Cambodia to facilitate negotiations over their shared border.
Thailand and Cambodia also agreed to resume direct communications between their prime ministers, foreign ministers and defence ministers, Anwar said.Thailand and Cambodia also agreed to resume direct communications between their prime ministers, foreign ministers and defence ministers, Anwar said.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated sharply over recent months.Relations between the two countries have deteriorated sharply over recent months.
Thailand and Cambodia have a long-running border dispute that dates back to disagreements over colonial-era maps, but the most recent tensions began in May when troops briefly exchanged fire in a contested area, killing a Cambodian soldier. This led to retaliatory measures by both sides.Thailand and Cambodia have a long-running border dispute that dates back to disagreements over colonial-era maps, but the most recent tensions began in May when troops briefly exchanged fire in a contested area, killing a Cambodian soldier. This led to retaliatory measures by both sides.
Last week, the two countries recalled their ambassadors, downgrading diplomatic relations. On Thursday, clashes erupted along the border, with the two sides trading rocket and artillery fire, and airstrikes.Last week, the two countries recalled their ambassadors, downgrading diplomatic relations. On Thursday, clashes erupted along the border, with the two sides trading rocket and artillery fire, and airstrikes.
The crisis has been worsened by a fallout between Hun Sen, a former leader of Cambodia and the father of Hun Manet, and Thaksin Shinawatra, a former Thai leader and the father of the Thai prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.The crisis has been worsened by a fallout between Hun Sen, a former leader of Cambodia and the father of Hun Manet, and Thaksin Shinawatra, a former Thai leader and the father of the Thai prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Paetongtarn was suspended from office this month after Hun Sen leaked a recording of a controversial phone call he had held with her, underlining the extent of the feud between Hun Sen and Thaksin Shinawatra, who were once close friends. Paetongtarn was suspended from office this month after Hun Sen leaked a recording of a controversial phone call he had held with her, underlining the extent of the feud between Hun Sen and Thaksin, who were once close friends.
Tita Sanglee, an associate fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, said it was too early to tell if the ceasefire would hold, and that it seemed “very fragile and susceptible to disruption”. She added: “Underlying tensions are still very high. Rebuilding trust will take more than time.” Tita Sanglee, an associate fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, said it was too early to tell if the ceasefire would hold, and that it seemed “very fragile and susceptible to disruption”. She added: “Underlying tensions are still very high. Rebuilding trust will take more than time.”
Phumtham later urged caution, telling reporters: “It’s not midnight yet. Let’s see how things go – because right now the clashes and talks are still ongoing. But I believe that the [Cambodian defence minister] went back to his country and talked with his people so I believe that it will end peacefully.
“We should wait and see the full outcome. We should not only look at the short-term.”