{"id":11581863,"date":"2025-07-28T07:36:20","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T11:36:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/?p=11581863&preview=true&preview_id=11581863"},"modified":"2025-07-28T11:48:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T15:48:16","slug":"thailand-cambodia-agree-immediate-ceasefire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/2025\/07\/28\/thailand-cambodia-agree-immediate-ceasefire\/","title":{"rendered":"Thailand and Cambodia agree to \u2018unconditional\u2019 ceasefire to end deadly border row, Malaysian PM says"},"content":{"rendered":"

By EILEEN NG, JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI and SOPHENG CHEANG, Associated Press<\/strong><\/p>\n

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) \u2014 Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an \u201cunconditional\u201d ceasefire starting at midnight, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Monday, a significant breakthrough to resolve five days of\u00a0deadly border clashes<\/a>\u00a0that have killed dozens and displaced tens of thousands of people.<\/p>\n

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai hailed the outcome of the meeting and shook hands along with Anwar at the conclusion of the brief press conference in Malaysia.<\/p>\n

The fighting began Thursday after a\u00a0land mine explosion along the border<\/a>\u00a0wounded five Thai soldiers. Both sides blamed each other for starting the clashes, that have killed at least 35 people and displaced more than 260,000 people on both sides.<\/p>\n

Hun Manet and Phumtham have agreed to an \u201cimmediate and unconditional ceasefire\u201d with effect from midnight local time, Anwar said as he read out a joint statement.<\/p>\n

Anwar, who hosted the talks as annual chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional bloc, said both sides have reached a common understanding to take steps to return to normalcy following what he called frank discussions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security,\u201d Anwar said.<\/p>\n

\"Thailand's
In this photo released by The Government Spokesman Office. Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, front, departs from Military Airport in Bangkok, to Malaysia, to attend a meeting to discuss regional peace at the Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia, with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Monday, July 28, 2025. (The Government Spokesman Office via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As part of the ceasefire deal, military commanders from both sides will hold talks Tuesday to defuse tensions while Cambodia will host a border committee meeting on Aug. 4. he said. The foreign and defense ministers of Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand have also been instructed to \u201cdevelop a detailed mechanism” to implement and monitor the ceasefire to ensure sustained peace, he added.<\/p>\n

Hun Manet said he hoped that bilateral ties could return to normal soon so that some 300,000 villagers\u00a0evacuated on both sides<\/a>\u00a0could return home.<\/p>\n

It is \u201ctime to start rebuilding trust, confidence and cooperation going forward between Thailand and Cambodia,” he said.<\/p>\n

Phumtham said the outcome reflected \u201cThailand\u2019s desire for a peaceful resolution.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Malaysian meeting followed direct pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has warned that the United States may not proceed with trade deals with either country if hostilities continue. The joint statement said that the U.S. is a co-organizer of the talks, with participation from China. The Chinese and American ambassadors to Malaysia attended the meeting that lasted over two hours.<\/p>\n

In a press statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was involved in arranging the meeting, applauded the ceasefire declaration. Rubio said he and President Trump \u201care committed to an immediate cessation of violence and expect the governments of Cambodia and Thailand to fully honor their commitments to end this conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted news of the ceasefire on X and wrote: \u201cPresident Trump made this happen. Give him the Nobel Peace Prize!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Local
Local students wrap food to give to villagers while they take refuge in Buddhist pagoda in Srey Snam district, Siem Reap province, Cambodia, Sunday, July 28, 2025, amid the fighting between Thailand and Cambodia. (AP Photo\/Heng Sinith)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Phumtham said after his return to Bangkok that Trump had called to offer congratulations for making a move toward peace and said that Thailand’s talks with Washington to set tariff levels on Thai exports could now proceed and that he would seek to make them as favorable as possible.<\/p>\n

The violence marks a rare instance of open military confrontation between ASEAN member states, a 10-nation regional bloc that has prided itself on non-aggression, peaceful dialogue and economic cooperation. Both countries\u00a0recalled their ambassadors<\/a>\u00a0and Thailand shut all border crossings with Cambodia, with an exception for migrant Cambodian workers returning home.<\/p>\n

News of the ceasefire brought relief and hope to evacuees from both sides. Some women at a crowded evacuation shelter in Surin, Thailand, shouted for joy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m happy about that, and feeling a bit relieved,\u201d said Usa Dasri, a vendor and farmer. \u201cWe miss our home. There are many small things I\u2019m worried about, livestock and rice fields. I don\u2019t know what might\u2019ve happened to them. I want to go home, so I\u2019m happy. I also think about our soldiers at the frontline. I want them to be safe and have a good sleep like us.\u201d<\/p>\n

She also credited outside diplomacy for the breakthrough.<\/p>\n