Thai and Cambodian leaders to satisfy in Malaysia for talks to finish lethal border dispute

BANGKOK — Thai and Cambodian leaders will meet in Malaysia for talks to finish hostilities, a spokesperson for the Thai prime minister’s workplace stated on Sunday. This comes following strain from U.S. President Donald Trump to finish a lethal border dispute, now in its fourth day, which has killed a minimum of 34 individuals and displaced greater than 168,000.

Jirayu Huangsap stated Performing Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will attend Monday’s talks in response to an invite from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim “to discuss peace efforts in the region.”

The spokesperson additionally stated Phumtham’s Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet may also attend the talks, although this was not instantly confirmed by the Cambodian facet. He added that Anwar was performing in his capability as chair of the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, held on an annual rotating foundation by its 10 members.

Trump posted on Fact Social on Saturday that he spoke to the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia and steered he wouldn’t transfer ahead with commerce agreements with both nation if the hostilities continued. He later stated either side agreed to satisfy to barter a ceasefire.

Each side agree to debate a ceasefire

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet stated earlier Sunday his nation agreed to pursue an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire.” He stated Trump informed him that Thailand had additionally agreed to halt assaults following the U.S. president’s dialog with Phumtham.

He stated he tasked his deputy, International Minister Prak Sokhonn, to coordinate subsequent steps with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and to interact instantly with Thailand’s overseas minister to implement the ceasefire.

Thailand expressed cautious assist. Phumtham thanked Trump and stated that Thailand agreed in precept to a ceasefire however burdened the necessity for “sincere intention” from Cambodia, the Thai International Ministry stated. Phumtham referred to as for swift bilateral talks to debate concrete steps towards a peaceable decision, it stated.

A home is seen broken after Cambodia fired artillery shells in Surin Province, Thailand, Sunday, July 27, 2025.

Sakchai Lalit/AP

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Sakchai Lalit/AP

Each side blame the opposite for the clashes

The combating flared Thursday after a land mine explosion alongside the border wounded 5 Thai troopers. Each side blamed one another for beginning the clashes. Each international locations recalled their ambassadors and Thailand closed its border crossings with Cambodia.

Regardless of the diplomatic efforts, combating continued Sunday alongside components of the contested border, with either side refusing to budge and buying and selling blame over renewed shelling and troop actions.

Col. Richa Suksowanont, a Thai military deputy spokesperson, stated Cambodian forces fired heavy artillery into Surin province, together with at civilian properties, early Sunday. He stated Cambodia additionally launched rocket assaults focusing on the traditional Ta Muen Thom temple, claimed by each international locations, and different 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.

Richa stated Trump’s efforts to mediate had been a “separate matter.” The battlefield operations will proceed and a ceasefire can solely occur if Cambodia formally initiates negotiations, he added.

“Any cessation of hostilities cannot be reached while Cambodia is severely lacking in good faith and repeatedly violating the basic principles of human rights and humanitarian law,” Thailand’s International Ministry stated individually.

Cambodian Protection Ministry spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata accused Thai forces of escalating the violence with bombardment of Cambodian territory early Sunday, adopted by a “large-scale incursion” involving tanks and floor troops in a number of areas.

“Such actions undermine all efforts toward peaceful resolution and expose Thailand’s clear intent to escalate rather than de-escalate the conflict,” she stated.

Thailand on Sunday reported a brand new dying of a soldier, bringing the entire variety of fatalities to 21, largely civilians. Cambodia stated 13 individuals have been killed. Greater than 131,000 individuals in Thailand have evacuated to protected places and over 37,000 individuals fled from three Cambodian provinces. Many border villages are largely abandoned, with many colleges and hospitals shut.

Evacuees hope for a swift finish to the combating

Pichayut Surasit, an air-conditioning technician in Thailand, stated the sudden outbreak of combating meant leaving his work in Bangkok to return house to guard his household.

“I didn’t have the heart to continue with my work when I heard the news. I wanted to come back as soon as possible, but I had to wait until the evening,” he stated. Now at a shelter in Surin housing some 6,000 evacuees, Pichayut worries for his spouse and twin daughters, hoping the battle will finish quickly to allow them to return to their house in Kap Choeng district, one of many hardest hit by shelling.

Bualee Chanduang, an area vendor who moved to the identical shelter Thursday along with her household and pet rabbit, is relying on swift negotiations to finish the violence. “I pray for God to help so that both sides can agree to talk and end this war,” she stated.

The U.N. Safety Council has referred to as on ASEAN, a regional bloc, to mediate peace between the 2 members. Human Rights Watch has condemned the reported use of cluster munitions, weapons banned by Worldwide regulation, in populated areas, and urged each governments to guard civilians.

The 800-kilometer (500-mile) frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for many years, however previous confrontations have been restricted and temporary. The most recent tensions erupted in Could when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailand’s home politics.