Cambodia, Thailand agree to ceasefire, ending deadly border clashes

Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Monday, July 28, to an unconditional ceasefire to end a deadly five-day border clash, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced. The conflict killed dozens of people and displaced more than 200,000 more.

Ibrahim shared an image on his X account of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai shaking each other’s hands. The ceasefire is set to begin at midnight local time, according to The New York Times. Ibrahim commended President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping of China for facilitating the talks.

Trump informed the Thai and Cambodian leaders that the U.S. wouldn’t negotiate trade deals until the fighting ended, the Times reported.

“Alhamdulillah, two fellow ASEAN nations, Thailand and Cambodia, have agreed to end their hostilities through the implementation of a ceasefire, effective from midnight tonight,” Ibrahim wrote, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which he chairs.

The agreement initiated an unconditional ceasefire, the prime ministers said in a joint statement Monday.  

Countries clash over land dispute

Cambodia and Thailand have disputed the border around the Preah Vihear temple since at least 2008, Martin Wagener, a German political science professor, wrote in a 2011 analysis of the conflict. The International Court of Justice ruled that the temple was in Cambodia, but the surrounding 2 square miles remain in dispute.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization declared the temple a Cambodian world heritage site, sparking deadly fights between Cambodia and Thailand, Wagener wrote. Both countries exchanged fire during several ceasefire negotiations at the time.

The most recent conflict broke out after a land mine exploded along the border on Thursday, July 24, The Associated Press reported. Five Thai soldiers were wounded. The two countries then blamed one another for starting the fighting that has now claimed at least 35 lives and displaced more than 260,000 people from both countries.

Details of ceasefire

According to the joint statement shared Monday on the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to have their military officials meet on Tuesday, July 29, to resolve the conflict. That will be followed by another meeting, hosted by Cambodia, on Aug. 4.

Cambodia remained doubtful on how long the ceasefire would last, as Manet accused Thailand of breaking a previous agreement during the week of July 20. Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared skepticism about Cambodia’s commitment to peace in a Sunday, July 27 statement, accusing the country of indiscriminate attacks.