Thailand and Cambodia agree to 'immediate and unconditional' ceasefire, says Malaysian PM
Anwar, who chaired the talks as head of the ASEAN regional bloc, said both sides have reached a common understanding to take steps to return to normalcy.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai have agreed to 'an immediate and unconditional ceasefire with effect from... midnight of 28 July,' Anwar said as he read out a joint statement.
Hun Manet and Phuntam hailed the outcome of the meeting and shook hands at the conclusion of the brief press conference.
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Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
Cambodia–Thailand ceasefire: Donald Trump takes credit; declares himself 'president of peace'
File photo: US President Donald Trump (Picture credit: AP) In a post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump claimed personal credit for brokering a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, calling it a major diplomatic achievement and declaring, 'I am proud to be the President of Peace!' 'Just spoke to the acting Prime Minister of Thailand and Prime Minister of Cambodia,' Trump wrote on Monday. 'I am pleased to announce that, after the involvement of President Donald J. Trump, both countries have reached a ceasefire and peace. Congratulations to all!' He went on to say, 'By ending this War, we have saved thousands of lives. I have instructed my Trade Team to restart negotiations on Trade. I have now ended many Wars in just six months — I am proud to be the President of Peace' As per news agency AFP, the ceasefire announcement followed five days of fierce fighting along the disputed jungle border between Thailand and Cambodia that killed at least 36 people and displaced nearly 300,000. The truce was officially declared in Kuala Lumpur after peace talks mediated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, chair of the Asean bloc. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai agreed to an 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' to take effect from midnight on Monday, local time. The agreement was confirmed in a joint statement read out by Anwar, who called it 'a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security.' Despite the formal announcement, sporadic fighting reportedly continued in some border areas after the ceasefire was declared, according to AFP. Cambodian officials accused Thailand of continued shelling early Monday, while Thailand said clashes persisted in at least three provinces. Trump had earlier warned both countries that the US would not proceed with trade negotiations if the conflict dragged on. 'We happen to be, by coincidence, currently dealing on Trade with both countries, but do not want to make any deal… if they are fighting — and I have told them so!' he posted over the weekend. Trump also likened the situation to the past conflict between India and Pakistan, which he claimed to have resolved successfully. 'This very much reminds me of the conflict between Pakistan and India, which was brought to a successful halt,' he wrote. The president held separate calls with both Hun Manet and Phumtham, urging them to agree to an immediate ceasefire. 'After speaking to both Parties, Ceasefire, Peace, and Prosperity seems to be a natural. We will soon see!' he added in a separate post on Truth Social. US secretary of state Marco Rubio echoed support for the ceasefire in a post on X, saying the US 'applauds the ceasefire declaration between Cambodia and Thailand announced today in Kuala Lumpur.' He also confirmed that US state department officials were on the ground in Malaysia to assist with negotiations. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet publicly thanked Trump for his 'decisive support,' calling the peace deal 'a foundation for future de-escalation.' The decades-long territorial dispute between the two countries flared up again last week, with both sides trading blame for triggering the latest violence. The disputed region, home to ancient temples and dense forest, has long been a flashpoint. While the ceasefire has brought temporary relief, military commanders from both sides are scheduled to meet on Tuesday to discuss next steps, followed by a cross-border committee meeting on August 4 in Cambodia. For now, Trump has claimed the diplomatic win and signalled that the path to trade re-engagement with both nations is open.
Scroll.in
an hour ago
- Scroll.in
Thailand, Cambodia agree to ‘immediate and unconditional' ceasefire
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' with effect from midnight on Monday, AP reported, quoting Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The agreement was reached during a meeting that Ibrahim, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai attended, according to Reuters. The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia – said to be the worst in 13 years – began in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed during a clash. The crisis escalated on Wednesday after a land mine explosion injured five Thai soldiers. The fighting involved heavy artillery, air strikes and rocket fire across several disputed border areas. At least 36 persons were killed amid escalated tensions and more than 3,00,000 have been displaced, reported Reuters. This marked a sharp escalation in a long-running dispute between the countries that contest several stretches of land along their border. At least 28 persons had died in previous clashes between 2008 and 2011. The ceasefire talks between Bangkok and Phnom Penh were hosted by Ibrahim in his capacity as the head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional bloc for 2025. After Monday's meeting, the Malaysian prime minister said both sides had agreed to take steps to return to normalcy. He added that he was ready to deploy a team to ensure implementation of the agreement. 'This is a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security,' Ibrahim said during a press conference. 'All parties shared a commitment to peace.' As part of the ceasefire deal, the defence ministers of Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand have been instructed to 'develop a detailed mechanism' to implement and monitor the agreement, added Ibrahim. He also stated that military commanders from Bangkok and Phnom Penh will hold talks from Tuesday to defuse tensions. Cambodia is also scheduled to host a border committee meeting on August 4, added the Malaysian prime minister. The Cambodian prime minister said that the solutions proposed by Ibrahim 'will set the conditions for moving forward with bilateral discussions, returning to normalcy, and forming the foundation for future de-escalation', reported Reuters. On Sunday, United States President Donald Trump said that he had spoken to the Cambodian prime minister and the Thai acting prime minister. Trump claimed he had told both leaders that Washington would not conclude trade deals with them unless they ended the fighting. Both Cambodia and Thailand are facing a tariff of 36% on their goods in the US. After the ceasefire agreement, Trump claimed Washington had 'solved the war with trade'.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Thailand and Cambodia agree to ceasefire after 5 days of clashes
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' after five days of clashes along their disputed border left at least 33 people dead and forced over 120,000 to flee their homes. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, alongside his Thai and Cambodian counterparts, announced the deal in Kuala Lumpur on Monday. 'This is a vital first step to a de-escalation and a restoration of peace and security,' he said, confirming that hostilities would cease at midnight. The breakthrough came only after intense pressure from the United States, Malaysia and China. On Saturday night, US President Donald Trump warned that tariff negotiations with both countries would be suspended unless the fighting stopped. Both Thailand and Cambodia are heavily dependent on US markets and face a 36 per cent tariff on exports to the US without a deal. Vietnam and Indonesia have already secured agreements to reduce their tariffs to 20 per cent or less, putting added pressure on Bangkok and Phnom Penh. Cambodia had been urging a ceasefire since Friday, with its under-equipped military struggling to hold the line against a more powerful Thai force. Both sides accused the other of targeting sensitive areas through the use of rockets and heavy artillery. Cambodia said the assaults had desecrated historic sights, Thailand said residential areas had been affected and that Cambodia was moving long-range launchers to the front lines. The fighting has hit civilians hard: Thailand reported most of its casualties were villagers killed by rockets, and Cambodia confirmed 13 deaths, including eight civilians. Over 100,000 Thais have been moved to shelters across four provinces, with 300 evacuation centres set up. Cambodia said 20,000 fled Preah Vihear province. Fighting continued even as peace talks were underway. On Monday, shells were still landing across the border. The escalation began earlier this month after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a skirmish. A landmine blast last week that maimed a Thai soldier triggered further retaliation. Thailand closed border crossings, expelled Cambodia's ambassador, and recalled its own. Cambodia hit back by blocking Thai imports like fruit and cutting power and internet access, while many Cambodian workers returned home from Thailand. The violence has disrupted major events including the cancellation of celebrations for Thailand's King Vajiralongkorn, who turned 73 on Monday. It has also fuelled nationalist tensions, prompting Thai authorities to warn its citizens against hate speech and violence directed towards Cambodians living in the country. ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and six other regional countries has agreed to monitor the ceasefire. Forces situated along the border are expected to pull back as independent observers mitigate tensions. This is not the first time that Thailand and Cambodia have been at odds with fighting erupting in 2003, 2008, 2009 and 2011. The root of the conflict stems from their 817 km border, drawn in 1907 by France, where clear demarcation of territory has remained elusive.
