Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to hold ceasefire talks in Malaysia on Monday, following four days of intense border conflict that has claimed over 30 lives and displaced thousands.
The talks, scheduled for 3 p.m. local time, aim to de-escalate tensions exacerbated by a long-standing border dispute.
This development follows diplomatic interventions, including by U.S. President Donald Trump, who urged both nations to prioritize peace.
The Thai government announced that Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will lead its delegation, while Malaysia, the current ASEAN chair, confirmed Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet’s attendance.
The conflict, reignited by a May skirmish that killed a Cambodian soldier, escalated on July 24 with heavy artillery exchanges, displacing over 200,000 people.
Both nations have traded accusations, with Cambodia alleging Thai ground assaults and Thailand reporting Cambodian artillery strikes on civilian areas.
Despite the agreement to negotiate, fighting persisted into Sunday, with shelling reported in Thailand’s Sisaket province and Cambodia’s border regions.
Cambodia’s Defense Ministry claimed Thai forces targeted historic temple complexes, while Thailand’s army accused Cambodia of mobilizing rocket launchers.
A Thai health clinic near the border was damaged by artillery, highlighting the conflict’s toll on civilian infrastructure.
Local residents, like Phnom Penh student Sreung Nita, expressed hope for peace, emphasizing the need for both sides to end hostilities.
The talks come as U.S. tariffs, set to impose a 36% tax on Thai and Cambodian goods from August 1, loom over both nations.
Trump emphasized that trade negotiations would not proceed until the fighting ceases, adding pressure to resolve the conflict.
Malaysia’s mediation, backed by ASEAN, underscores regional efforts to stabilize the situation.
However, both countries’ insistence on the other initiating hostilities complicates prospects for an immediate ceasefire, with Thailand emphasizing the need for “sincere intention” from Cambodia.