Thailand and Cambodia’s leaders on Monday reached an agreement to an “unconditional” ceasefire after five days of fighting along their jungle-clad frontier.
During the conflict, no fewer than 36 people were killed, tens of thousands forced to flee their houses.
The recent escalation over the long-contested border region proved to be the most lethal since the hostilities that erupted between 2008 and 2011 over the territory. This area is claimed by both parties due to an ambiguous demarcation established by Cambodia’s French colonial administrators in 1907.
The two nations agreed “an immediate and unconditional ceasefire with effect from 24 hours local time, midnight on 28th July 2025, tonight,” Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.
The announcement follows a mediation meeting at Anwar’s official residence in Malaysia, which currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian countries.
Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet met shortly after 0700 GMT in Anwar’s presence.
“This is a vital first step,” Anwar told reporters, adding both leaders have “expressed their positions and willingness to… an immediate ceasefire, a return to de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security.”
Both Phumtham and Hun thanked US President Donald Trump for supporting the talks.
According to Hun, “the solutions that Prime Minister Anwar just announced will set a condition for moving forward for our bilateral discussion to return to normalcy of the relationship.”
No fewer than 36 individuals have lost their lives, and over 200,000 have been displaced as these nations, both renowned tourist havens, engaged in conflict over a handful of disputed border temples.