Thailand and Cambodia Agree to Ceasefire After Deadly Border Clashes

Following five days of deadly combat along their common border, Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.The clashes have killed at least 36 people and forced more than 270,000 residents to flee their homes.

The agreement was reached on Monday following peace talks hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya. Malaysia currently serves as the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

 The discussions were attended by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.The ceasefire officially takes effect at midnight, July 28.

Anwar declared, "This is an essential first step toward restoring peace and security." He added that military leaders from Thailand and Cambodia will meet on Tuesday to talk about implementation.

The two nations have a long-standing border dispute, particularly over areas marked by unclear colonial-era maps. The latest clashes were the deadliest since 2008–2011, when violence also broke out over disputed temple sites.

Both leaders thanked international partners, especially U.S. President Donald Trump and the Chinese government, for their support in brokering the peace deal. Trump had earlier warned both countries that he would halt trade talks if the conflict continued.

Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet called the ceasefire a chance to rebuild trust. Thailand’s Phumtham said the agreement would be honored sincerely by both sides.

As part of the resolution, both countries will form a Cambodian-Thai General Boundary Committee, which will hold its first meeting on August 4 in Cambodia.

Malaysia also offered to monitor the ceasefire’s enforcement, while direct communication between the governments of Thailand and Cambodia will resume at multiple levels, including defense and foreign affairs.