Border Conflict: Thai, Cambodian PMs To Meet In Malaysia For Peace Talks

Last Updated:July 27, 2025, 17:33 IST

Thailand's acting PM Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia's PM Hun Manet will meet in Malaysia for peace talks on their border conflict, mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet. (File Pic/AFP)

Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet will meet on Monday in Malaysia for peace talks over their border conflict, Bangkok said on Sunday.

The Thai premier’s office said the talks would be hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister and ASEAN chair Anwar Ibrahim, “with Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia, to personally travel for talks".

Earlier on Sunday, Thailand and Cambodia signalled their readiness to negotiate an end to a deadly border dispute following mediation efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump. The fighting, now in its fourth day, has killed at least 34 people and displaced more than 168,000.

Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he had spoken with the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia, warning that he would scrap trade agreements if hostilities persisted. He later claimed that both parties agreed to meet for ceasefire negotiations.

Cambodian PM Manet said on Sunday that his country agreed to pursue an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire." He said Trump told him that Thailand had also agreed to halt attacks following Trump’s conversation with Acting Thai PM Phumtham.

“This is positive news for the soldiers and people of both countries," Hun Manet said in a statement.

He said he tasked his deputy, Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, to coordinate next steps with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and to engage directly with Thailand’s foreign minister to implement the ceasefire.

Thailand expressed cautious support. Phumtham thanked Trump and said that Thailand agreed in principle to a ceasefire but stressed the need for “sincere intention" from Cambodia, the Thai Foreign Ministry said. It said that Phumtam had called for swift bilateral talks to discuss concrete steps toward a peaceful resolution.

Clashes erupted along the border between Thailand and Cambodia after a landmine explosion injured five Thai soldiers, prompting both sides to blame each other for the violence. The situation escalated further with both countries recalling their ambassadors and Thailand shutting down its border crossings with Cambodia.

Fighting continued Sunday along parts of the contested border, despite the diplomatic efforts, with both sides refusing to budge and trading blame over renewed shelling and troop movements.

A Thai army deputy spokesperson, Col. Richa Suksowanont, said Cambodian forces fired heavy artillery into Surin province, including at civilian homes, early Sunday. He said Cambodia also launched rocket attacks targeting the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple, claimed by both countries, and other areas in a bid to reclaim territory secured by Thai troops. Thai forces responded with long-range artillery to strike Cambodian artillery and rocket launchers.

The 800-kilometre border between Thailand and Cambodia has been a decades-long point of contention, with past clashes typically being short-lived and limited. Tensions recently escalated in May following a confrontation that resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier, sparking a diplomatic divide and stirring up domestic politics in Thailand.

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Thailand

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News world Border Conflict: Thai, Cambodian PMs To Meet In Malaysia For Peace Talks