Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” starting from midnight on Monday (July 28) to end their most severe conflict in over a decade. This conflict has lasted for five days, resulting in at least 36 deaths and over 300,000 people displaced. U.S. President Trump congratulated both countries on agreeing to the ceasefire.
On Monday, Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet negotiated at the ASEAN rotating chair country of Malaysia and reached a ceasefire consensus. The leaders of both countries agreed to end the hostile state, resume direct communication, and establish mechanisms to implement the ceasefire.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced after the meeting, “Cambodia and Thailand have reached a mutual understanding.”
“This is an important first step towards easing tensions, restoring peace, and security,” Anwar said. Thai and Cambodian leaders were also present at the press conference.
Anwar further stated that local military commanders would meet at 7 a.m. on Tuesday.
In a joint statement issued by Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia after the talks, they instructed their foreign and defense ministers to devise detailed mechanisms for the implementation, verification, and reporting of the ceasefire agreement, stating that “this mechanism will serve as the foundation for lasting peace and accountability.”
The negotiations between these two Southeast Asian neighbors came after pressure from U.S. President Trump. Thailand initially refused third-party mediation after the outbreak of the conflict. Trump called the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia on July 26, explicitly stating that if the fighting continued, the U.S. would not reach a trade agreement with them. Both countries face a 36% tariff in their largest export market, the United States. Following the call, Trump announced that the leaders had agreed to ceasefire negotiations.
After the Thai and Cambodian leaders negotiated in Malaysia on Monday and agreed to an immediate ceasefire, President Trump took to his social media platform “Truth Social” to congratulate both countries on achieving “ceasefire and peace.” He said he had just spoken with the Acting Prime Minister of Thailand and the Prime Minister of Cambodia over the phone.
“By ending this war, we have saved thousands of lives,” Trump said. “I have instructed my trade team to restart trade negotiations with both countries.”
In addition to agreeing on a ceasefire, Thailand and Cambodia also agreed to continue with the planned border commission meeting in Cambodia on August 4.
U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo issued a statement applauding the ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia. Pompeo said President Trump and he hoped that the governments of Cambodia and Thailand would fully uphold their commitment to ending this conflict.
Pompeo also thanked Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar for his leadership and for hosting the ceasefire negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia. “The United States will continue to be committed to and participate in the process of ending this conflict by the U.S. and Malaysia-led organization,” he said.
These two Southeast Asian neighbors have been in dispute over border territories for decades. In May of this year, a Cambodian soldier was killed in a small-scale conflict, further heightening tensions over the border dispute between the two countries.
Last week, a Thai soldier lost a leg in a landmine explosion, escalating the situation further. Thailand closed some border checkpoints with Cambodia, expelled the Cambodian ambassador, and recalled the Thai ambassador. On July 24, there was an exchange of fire, with both countries claiming the other party had provoked the conflict.