IRIA News

5 minute read

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” following five days of deadly border clashes that left at least 35 people dead and displaced more than 260,000 people. The ceasefire took effect at midnight after talks were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The ceasefire was announced by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as he stood alongside Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. “This is a vital first step to a de-escalation and a restoration of peace and security,” Anwar said during the press briefing.

The agreement came after sustained diplomatic efforts. Malaysia, in its role as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), organized the emergency meeting. While Thailand initially resisted mediation, it agreed to attend following pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who made further trade negotiations conditional on an end to the fighting.

Escalation between Thailand and Cambodia

The clashes began Thursday when five Thai soldiers were injured in a landmine explosion near the disputed border. Both sides blamed each other for initiating the fighting. Thailand responded by closing several border crossings, expelling Cambodia’s ambassador, and launching airstrikes and artillery attacks on Cambodian positions.

Thailand claimed to have captured several Cambodian-held hills and maintained a heavy artillery barrage throughout the weekend. Cambodia, with fewer military resources, reported 13 fatalities, including eight civilians. Thailand said 14 civilians had been killed, mostly in rocket strikes launched by Cambodia.

Alhamdulillah, dua negara sahabat ASEAN, Thailand dan Kemboja bersetuju menamatkan persengketaan melalui gencatan senjata mulai tengah malam ini.

Inilah bukti nyata kekuatan diplomasi ASEAN yang berpaksikan muafakat, rundingan dan prinsip kemanusiaan. Malaysia bukan sekadar… pic.twitter.com/iKiFdCLq4J

— Anwar Ibrahim (@anwaribrahim) July 28, 2025

Shells and rockets continued to land in both countries as the leaders held talks in Malaysia. The Thai military said that the use of multiple rocket launchers by Cambodian forces had caused most civilian casualties and significantly escalated the conflict.

Political and military commitments

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar said that as part of the ceasefire deal, military commanders from both countries would meet for further discussions. In addition, Cambodia will host a border committee meeting on August 4 to address further de-escalation measures.

Anwar said the foreign and defense ministers of Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia have been tasked with developing a mechanism to implement and monitor the ceasefire. “Both sides have reached a common understanding to take steps to return to normalcy,” he said.

US pressure played a critical role.

U.S. President Donald Trump played a key role in pressuring the two countries to halt hostilities. Over the weekend, Trump threatened to suspend trade talks unless the fighting stopped. Both Thailand and Cambodia face up to 36% tariffs on their exports to the U.S. without a deal. In contrast, neighboring countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia have already negotiated lower tariffs, putting further pressure on the two governments.

The joint statement from the talks acknowledged U.S. and Chinese participation. Both the U.S. and Chinese ambassadors to Malaysia attended the negotiations. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio applauded the ceasefire and said, “We are committed to an immediate cessation of violence and expect the governments of Cambodia and Thailand to fully honor their commitments to end this conflict.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted the news on social media, writing: “President Trump made this happen. Give him the Nobel Peace Prize!” Phumtham said that Trump called him personally to offer congratulations and informed him that U.S.-Thai tariff talks could now resume.

Months of rising tensions

The conflict between Thailand and Cambodia is rooted in long-standing disputes along the 800-kilometer border between the two countries. Both countries have periodically clashed over territories surrounding ancient Khmer temples and rural settlements along the border.

The situation deteriorated in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a border clash. In response, Cambodia banned certain Thai imports, including fruit, electricity, and internet services. Thailand responded by imposing restrictions on cross-border travel.

Both countries recalled their ambassadors and began reinforcing military positions near the disputed areas. Hundreds of thousands of Cambodian workers began returning home, fearing further escalation.

Tensions intensified when a Thai soldier lost his leg in another explosion, prompting border closures and a breakdown in diplomatic communication. Despite multiple warnings, both sides engaged in sustained combat, with artillery, rockets, and airstrikes used by Thailand.

The recent clashes erupted on July 24 and lasted for about 4 days. The conflict claimed at least 32 lives, mostly civilians, and displaced nearly 200,000 people on both sides of the long-contested border.

While the ceasefire offers hope for peace, the situation remains unstable. Military movements and the current condition on the front lines are not fully clear, and both sides have accused each other of violating past agreements. The presence of heavy nationalist sentiment and deep mistrust between the armies could jeopardize the ceasefire.