Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire in their escalating border dispute after talks in neighboring Malaysia, that country’s prime minister announced.
Cambodia and Thailand “reached a common understanding” that a ceasefire will begin at midnight, Anwar Ibrahim announced Monday at a news conference in Putrajaya, a Malaysian city south of Kuala Lumpur where talks were held with representatives from Malaysia, China and the United States.
“This is a vital first step towards a de-escalation and a restoration of peace and security,” Anwar said of the ceasefire announcement.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, were present as Anwar read the statement and shook hands at the end of the news conference.
Thailand and Cambodia also agreed to convene an “informal meeting” of their respective regional military commanders at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Anwar said, followed by a meeting of defense attaches “if both sides are agreeable.” Malaysia, as this year’s chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, will lead the meeting, Anwar said.
Long-simmering tensions between Cambodia and Thailand escalated into open conflict last week as the countries exchanged heavy fire across a dozen locations on their disputed border, causing the deaths of civilians and prompting the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. The neighbors, which both amassed troops at their border regions, blamed each other for instigating the violence and said they acted in self-defense.
China and the United States have intervened to try to facilitate a temporary ceasefire. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he spoke with the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand and said they wanted to settle.
This is a developing story and will be updated. Rebecca Tan contributed to this report.
