Kuala Lumpur, July 29; Thailand and Cambodia are set to begin high-level negotiations in Malaysia on Monday aimed at ending the deadliest border clashes between the two Southeast Asian nations in over a decade, officials said.
The talks come amid renewed violence that erupted on July 24, following months of simmering tensions and the killing of a Cambodian soldier during a border skirmish in May. The recent hostilities have killed at least 35 people and displaced more than 150,000 civilians on both sides of the border.
Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will participate in the first face-to-face discussions since the conflict flared last week.
The United States has also stepped in to assist the peace effort. U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he was optimistic about a resolution, describing the negotiations as “an easy one,” and confirmed that Thai and Cambodian leaders had agreed to “quickly work out a ceasefire.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a statement, said U.S. officials are already in Malaysia to support the talks. Rubio added that he had spoken to the foreign ministers of both countries and urged an immediate de-escalation of violence.
Despite diplomatic efforts, fresh artillery exchanges were reported on Sunday, with each side blaming the other for initiating attacks. Both governments accused the other of violating the border and escalating the conflict.
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence, urging both countries to reach an immediate ceasefire and resolve the dispute through peaceful dialogue.
Thailand has reported 22 fatalities, including eight soldiers, while Cambodia has confirmed 13 deaths, five of whom were military personnel. Humanitarian agencies have warned of worsening conditions for displaced families as the conflict drags on.
The border dispute, which stems from overlapping territorial claims and long-standing mistrust, is the worst seen since a deadly standoff near the Preah Vihear temple in 2011. Monday’s talks are being closely watched by regional observers and the international community.
