Thailand and Cambodia agree to ceasefire after days of deadly clashes
A Cambodian soldier stands on a truck carrying a Russian-made BM-21 rocket launcher travelling along a street in Oddar Meanchey province on July 26
By Kristie Lu Stout, Lauren Kent, Len Lang, Kocha Olarn, CNN
(CNN) — Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” beginning at midnight local time (12 p.m. ET Monday), following days of clashes across the two countries’ disputed border.
The nations will convene a meeting of regional commanders from the Cambodian and Thai sides on Tuesday, July 29, according to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who mediated peace talks as the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the regional bloc.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai met at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Putrajaya, just south of the capital Kuala Lumpur.
Both sides have accused the other of starting the latest border flare-up and traded blame for the ongoing fighting, which has killed at least 35 people and injured more than 200, according to figures from Thai and Cambodian officials. The dispute over their border goes back decades.
The leaders indicated in a joint news conference that fighting will stop immediately, even as clashes continued on Monday morning in the hours before the peace talks. Cambodian authorities accused Thailand of striking at least two locations in the early hours, while the Thai army said clashes were taking place in three provinces.
The United States and China also participated in the ceasefire negotiations. US State Department officials were on the ground Monday to assist with the negotiations, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the Southeast Asian nations had agreed to ceasefire talks, but localized fighting continued throughout the weekend. Trump said he warned the Thai and Cambodian leaders that he would not make trade deals with either country if the deadly border conflict continued.
“This is an important step towards reducing tensions and restoring peace and security,” Hun Manet said in a statement confirming the ceasefire, in which he thanked the Malaysian prime minister, the Chinese government and Donald Trump specifically for their support in the negotiation process.
He also announced that the two countries will establish a Cambodian-Thai General Boundary Committee, which will hold an initial meeting on August 4, hosted by Cambodia.
“Today’s outcome reflects Thailand’s desire for a peaceful resolution, while continuing to protect our sovereignty and the lives of our people,” Phumtham said in the news conference. “We agreed to a ceasefire that will be carried out in good faith by both sides.”
Malaysia is prepared to deploy a team to “ensure implementation and observation” of the ceasefire, Ibrahim said, adding that both Thailand and Cambodia will resume direct communication at the level of prime ministers, foreign ministers and defense ministers.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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CNN’s Kocha Olarn, Helen Regan, Lex Harvey and Jonny Hallam contributed to this report.
