Thailand and Cambodia to Hold Ceasefire Talks in Malaysia After Deadly Border Clashes

Kuala Lumpur, July 27, 2025: Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to convene in Malaysia on Monday, July 28, 2025, to negotiate a ceasefire following four days of intense border clashes that have claimed at least 33 lives and displaced over 168,000 people. The talks, facilitated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s intervention, who on Saturday urged both nations’ leaders to seek an immediate ceasefire

Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will lead the Thai delegation, while Malaysia confirmed that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will also attend, though Cambodia has not yet officially verified his participation. The conflict, which erupted on July 24, 2025, after a landmine explosion wounded five Thai soldiers, has seen both sides exchange heavy artillery fire, airstrikes, and accusations of initiating hostilities

The clashes, centered around disputed border areas including the Khmer-era Ta Muen Thom and Preah Vihear temples, mark the deadliest confrontation between the two nations in over a decade. Thailand reported 24 deaths, including 14 civilians, and over 139,000 displaced, while Cambodia confirmed 13 deaths, including eight civilians, and 80,000 displaced in Oddar Meanchey province. Both countries have accused each other of violating international norms, with Cambodia alleging Thailand used banned cluster munitions—a claim Thailand denies, asserting it adheres to proportionality in targeting military objectives

Trump, speaking from his Trump Turnberry resort in Scotland, announced on Truth Social that both nations had agreed to “immediately meet and quickly work out a Ceasefire and, ultimately, PEACE!” He warned that ongoing fighting would jeopardize trade deals with the U.S., as a 36% tariff on Thai and Cambodian exports is set to take effect on August 1 unless agreements are reached. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed gratitude for Trump’s mediation, affirming Cambodia’s support for an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire.” Thailand, however, emphasized the need for “sincere intention” from Cambodia and prioritized bilateral dialogue before committing to a ceasefire.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as the current ASEAN chair, has been instrumental in brokering the talks, having previously urged both sides to halt hostilities. Despite earlier optimism, fighting continued into Sunday, with artillery fire reported near Surin province in Thailand and Oddar Meanchey in Cambodia, damaging homes and infrastructure. Cambodia also claimed Thai shelling damaged the UNESCO-listed Preah Vihear temple, a charge Thailand dismissed as a “distortion of facts.”

The conflict’s roots trace back to the 1907 Franco-Siamese Treaty, which left parts of the 800-km border undefined, fueling disputes over sites like Preah Vihear, awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962. Tensions escalated in May 2025 after a Cambodian soldier’s death in a skirmish, exacerbated by a leaked phone call between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen, which strained diplomatic relations and stoked nationalist sentiments.

International calls for peace have intensified, with the UN, U.S., China, and the EU urging restraint. UNICEF highlighted civilian casualties, including children, and school closures, calling for compliance with international humanitarian law. Despite Trump’s announcement, fresh clashes on Sunday underscored the challenges ahead, with both sides continuing to trade blame. The upcoming talks in Malaysia offer a critical opportunity to de-escalate, but analysts warn that deep-seated mistrust and domestic political pressures in both countries could complicate a lasting resolution.