- Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” following peace talks
- Malaysia’s leader Anwar Ibrahim said the ceasefire would take effect from midnight local time, adding: “This is a vital first step to a de-escalation and a restoration of peace and security”.
- At least 33 people have been killed and thousands displaced since 24 July when fighting escalated following months of tensions
- The talks were held after US President Donald Trump asked both nations to agree to a ceasefire as a pre-condition to their respective trade talks with Washington
- The dispute between the two South East Asian nations dates back to over a century, when their borders were drawn following the French occupation of Cambodia
What exactly did Trump tell Cambodia and Thailand?
Thailand and Cambodia agreed to a ceasefire after Donald Trump threatened not to make a trade deal with them until the fighting stopped.
Trade talks are a no-go “until such time as the fighting STOPS”, he wrote on Truth Social on Saturday.
Then on Sunday, he again took to social media, saying: “I called the prime ministers of each and said, ‘we’re not going to make a trade deal unless you settle a war’. A lot people killed.”
“I think by the time I got off, I think they wanted to settle.”
A kick from Trump and a win for Malaysia
President Trump may have delivered the kick, with his trade talks threat, that enabled this ceasefire, but it is Malaysia which is getting the credit.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, flanked by his Thai and Cambodian counterparts, announced an agreed end to hostilities between the two countries at midnight, and said Malaysia and other members of the Association of South East Asian Nations were on hand to help monitor the ceasefire.
Tellingly both the US and China had observers at the talks.
Cambodia’s prime minister Hun Manet described it as a very good meeting that he hoped would immediately stop the fighting; Cambodia has been pushing for a ceasefire since Friday, as its outgunned forces have been driven back by the Thai military.
The acting Thai prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai seemed less thrilled by the outcome, but promised to honour the ceasefire.
Shells and rockets continued to land in both countries even as the peace talks were underway; it will take a lot longer to cool the emotions on both sides of the border stirred up by the destruction and loss of life over the past five days.
Here’s more on what the two countries agreed to
As part of the ceasefire agreement, Thailand and Cambodia will also resume direct communications between their prime ministers, foreign minister and defence ministers.
The defence and foreign ministers of Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand have also been asked to set up a “detailed mechanism” for the “implementation, verification and reporting of the ceasefire”, according to a press release published after this afternoon’s talks.
It is unclear from the statement what form this “mechanism” will take.
What exactly did Thailand and Cambodia agree to?
Here’s a recap of what Thailand and Cambodia agreed on:
- An “unconditional ceasefire” from midnight Malaysia time (16:00 GMT)
- Military commanders from both countries will hold an “informal meeting” at 07:00 on Tuesday
- This will be followed by a meeting of defence attaches, led by the chairman of Asean, on 4 August
Thai and Cambodian leaders thank Trump and China
Notably, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s acting leader Phumtham Wechayachai both thanked US President Donald Trump and the Chinese government in their brief comments during the press conference.
As we’ve been reporting, this afternoon’s talks were held after Trump told the South East Asian neighbours to agree to a ceasefire as a pre-condition to their respective trade talks with Washington. This forced Thailand’s hand – Bangkok was earlier opposed to any third-party mediation, insisting that the conflict can be resolved only through bilateral negotiations.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim put forward his offer to mediate late on Thursday, which Thailand took up only after Trump’s threat.
China, which has strategic ties with both Thailand and Cambodia, also sent representatives to help broker peace.
Press conference ends with gesture of unity
In true Asean fashion, the leaders held hands in unity at the end of the press conference.
Press conference ends
The press conference has just wrapped up. The leaders all shook hands for the cameras, but did not take any questions from the floor and were promptly escorted out of the room.
Acting Thai PM says ceasefire struck ‘in good faith’
Acting Thai PM Phumtham Wechayachai spoke briefly after his Cambodian counterpart.
He said the ceasefire was negotiated by his country “in good faith” and that Thailand is committed to peace.
‘Time to start rebuilding trust and confidence’ – Hun Manet
Hun Manet says he is confident that results from the talks will “provide a lot of opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people on both sides to return to normalcy”.
He adds that it’s a time to “start rebuilding trust and confidence going forward between Cambodia and Thailand”.
Thai and Cambodian military commanders to meet
The morning after the ceasefire takes effect, military commanders will hold an “informal meeting” at 07:00 Tuesday, Anwar also said.
It will be followed by a meeting of defence attaches led by the chairman of Asean on 4 August.
‘A very good meeting’ – Hun Manet
Hun Manet has called the talks “a very good meeting” and said he hopes to stop the fighting “immediately”.
There have been 300,000 people displaced on both sides of the conflict, he notes.
The Cambodian leader thanked Anwar, US President Donald Trump and the Chinese government for their involvement in the mediation.
He also thanked his Thai counterpart Phumtham Wechayachai for his
Hun Manet addresses the media
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet is now addressing reporters.
‘Immediate and unconditional ceasefire’ from midnight
Thailand and Cambodia will have an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” with effect from midnight local time, Anwar says.
“This is a vital first step to a de-escalation and a restoration of peace and security,” he says.
Ceasefire reached – Anwar
Cambodia’s PM Hun Manet and Thai acting leader Phumtham Wechayachai have “expressed their positions and willingness to immediate ceasefire”, Anwar says.
Anwar has started speaking
Malaysia’s leader Anwar Ibrahim has started speaking. For a start he has expressed his “deep appreciation and gratitude” to the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia.
Why are Thailand and Cambodia fighting?
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have been simmering for a while but last Thursday, they exploded into a deadly battle at the border.
Each side is blaming each other for causing the escalation. Thailand has accused Cambodia of then firing rockets, while Bangkok carried out air strikes on Cambodian military targets.
In fact, the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia dates back more than a century, when the borders of the two nations were drawn after the French occupation of Cambodia.
Things officially became hostile in 2008, when Cambodia tried to register an 11th Century temple located in a contested area as a Unesco World Heritage Site – a move that was met with heated protest from Thailand.
Over the years there have been sporadic clashes that have seen soldiers and civilians killed on both sides.
The latest tensions ramped up in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash. This plunged bilateral ties to their lowest point in more than a decade.
Read more here on the Thai-Cambodian border dispute.
Post-talks press conference set to begin
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is due to hold a press conference after hosting Cambodian and Thai leaders for ceasefire talks.
Stay with us as we bring you the latest.
China calls for end to conflict ‘as soon as possible’
China, which has political and economic ties with both Cambodia and Thailand, says it welcomes efforts to end fighting between the South East Asian neighbours.
Calling for an end to the conflict “as soon as possible”, Beijing’s foreign ministry said: “We hope that both sides will start from the shared interests of their peoples, uphold the spirit of valuing peace and promoting good neighbourliness, remain calm and exercise restraint.”
First photos from the meeting
The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia are now sitting in the same room, as peace talks are held at the official residence of Malaysia’s prime minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya, around 30 minutes from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.
Officials from US and China, who both said they want to see a de-escalation of the conflict, are also in attendance.
Peace talks begin in Malaysia
The peace negotiations between Thai and Cambodian leaders are underway, according to Reuters and AFP.
We’ll bring you the latest updates as we get them. Please stay with us.
Here’s what you need to know
In just a few minutes, the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia will meet for peace talks as deadly border clashes enter a fifth day.
If you’re just joining us, here’s what you need to know:
- Thailand has reported 22 deaths – including 14 civilians – since the clashes started on Thursday. Cambodia has not released a national casualty toll
- Their dispute dates back more than a century, when their borders were drawn after the French occupation of Cambodia. There have been sporadic clashes over the years. Now, each side is blaming the other the recent escalation
- Peace talks are set to begin in Kuala Lumpur at 15:00 local time (07:00 GMT). Malaysia’s leader Anwar Ibrahim will chair the talks. Officials from China and the US are also expected to be there
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the US wants the conflict to end “as soon as possible”
- President Donald Trump said that tariff negotiations with Washington will not proceed until the “fighting STOPS”
- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has called for an “immediate ceasefire”, but his Thai counterpart Phumtham Wechayachai said he would have to assess if Cambodia shows “genuine intent” at the meeting
In pictures: Conflict displaces tens of thousands
Intense fighting between Thailand and Cambodia in the last five days has claimed dozens of lives, wounded many more, and displaced tens of thousands of people. Here’s a look at the situation in evacuation centres, border checkpoints and in cities farther afield from the border provinces.
Why are Thailand and Cambodia fighting?
Simmering tensions between Thailand and Cambodia exploded into a deadly battle at the border last Thursday.
Each side is blaming each other for causing the escalation. Thailand has accused Cambodia of then firing rockets, while Bangkok carried out air strikes on Cambodian military targets.
In fact, the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia dates back more than a century, when the borders of the two nations were drawn after the French occupation of Cambodia.
Things officially became hostile in 2008, when Cambodia tried to register an 11th Century temple located in a contested area as a Unesco World Heritage Site – a move that was met with heated protest from Thailand.
Over the years there have been sporadic clashes that have seen soldiers and civilians killed on both sides.
The latest tensions ramped up in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash. This plunged bilateral ties to their lowest point in more than a decade.
Read more here on the Thai-Cambodian border dispute.
US wants conflict to end ‘as soon as possible’ – Rubio
The US wants the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia to end “as soon as possible”, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said.
State Department officials are in Malaysia to assist in peace talks, Rubio said on the eve of the negotiations, which will start in less than two hours.
Earlier, we reported that the talks come after US President Donald Trump asked both South East Asian countires to agree to a ceasefire as a condition for trade talks with Washington.
Thais and Cambodians slug it out on social media, as border tensions flare
As the border clashes intensify, a different kind of war between their citizens has been raging – via increasingly belligerent exchanges on social media.
Nationalists from both sides have long bickered over several points of national pride – from ownership of temples and territories to the origins of traditional dances, costumes, food and sports.
The rising tensions in recent weeks, which culminated in the deadly attacks on Thursday, have now prompted young people on both sides to trade fresh barbs online.
The comment sections of social media posts about the conflict have turned into an online warzone, with Thai and Cambodian users arguing with each other and backing their governments official version of events.
“Justice for Cambodia,” one Cambodian user commented on a TikTok video of a user trying to explain the conflict. “Thai troops opened fire on Cambodian forces first.”
“[Who’s] gonna trust [what] the largest scammer country said?” a Thai user replied, making a reference to the widespread scam centres in Cambodia that have entrapped hundreds of thousands.
Cambodian prime minister seeks ‘immediate ceasefire’
The purpose of peace talks in Kuala Lumpur is to “achieve an immediate ceasefire”, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet has said on X about an hour ago.
In an earlier post on Facebook, the Cambodian leader thanked Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for initiating and coordinating the meeting. Officials from the US and China will also attend the meeting, he wrote.
Thai leader says Cambodia not acting ‘in good faith’
Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has accused Cambodia of not acting “in good faith” as he left for peace talks in Malaysia.
“We do not believe Cambodia is acting in good faith, based on their actions in addressing the issue,” Phumtham told reporters at Bangkok airport as fighting at the two countries’ border reached a fifth day.
“They need to demonstrate genuine intent, and we will assess that during the meeting,” he said.
Cambodia had on Saturday called for an “immediate” ceasefire.
Who is attending the peace talks?
Malaysia’s leader Anwar Ibrahim will chair the peace talks later today in Kuala Lumpur. Anwar, who is chair of Asean or the Association of South East Asian Nations, had proposed ceasefire talks soon after intense fighting broke out along the Thai-Cambodian border on Thursday.
The Thai delegation will be led by acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai while Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet is expected to lead Phnom Penh’s delegation.
Officials from China and the US will also be present at the negotiations, AFP news agency reported.
What happened over the weekend
Cambodia had on Saturday called for “immediate” ceasefire with Thailand and a peaceful resolution to the dispute.
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump said he told Thailand’s and Cambodia’s leaders that negotiations to reduce tariffs would not proceed until the “fighting STOPS”.
The US president’s ultimatum forced Bangkok’s hand. Thailand, which had earlier refused any third-party mediation, has now accepted a mediation offer put forward by Malaysia – the current chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations.
Leaders will now head to Kuala Lumpur for talks at 15:00 local time (07:00 GMT). The Thai delegation will be led by acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai while the Cambodian side will be led by Prime Minister Hun Manet.
Thailand has reported 22 deaths – including 14 civilians – since fighting started on Thursday. Cambodia has not released a national casualty toll.
Thailand and Cambodia due for peace talks
The festering border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia has entered its fifth day today and the country’s leaders are due to meet later in Malaysia for peace talks.
The clashes have claimed dozens of lives. Heavy exchanges of fire have continued overnight, while Thailand and Cambodia continued to point fingers at each other for aggravating the dispute.
Stay with us as we bring you the latest.
