Thailand and Cambodia have reached an agreement on an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" following five days of deadly border clashes that have killed at least 33 people and displaced tens of thousands.

“This is a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security,” Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said, flanked by the Thai and Cambodian leaders, as he announced that hostilities would end at midnight.

Although Thailand had initially rejected Malaysia’s offer to mediate, it eventually agreed to talks after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that tariff negotiations with both countries would not move forward until “fighting STOPS.”

Tensions over the century-old territorial dispute flared in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed during a skirmish. In response, Thailand imposed restrictions on travel into Cambodia, while Phnom Penh banned several Thai imports, including fruit, electricity, and internet services. Cambodian media reported that hundreds of thousands of migrant workers had returned from Thailand since May.

The situation deteriorated further last week after a Thai soldier lost his leg in a landmine explosion. Thailand responded by closing several border crossings, expelling the Cambodian ambassador, and recalling its own.

Both countries exchanged gunfire early Thursday, with each side accusing the other of provoking the violence.

The Thai military reported that many casualties on its side were civilians in villages struck by rocket fire. Cambodia said 13 people had died on its side, including eight civilians.

Even as peace talks took place in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, shells and rockets were still being fired across the border.

Prime Minister Anwar noted that Malaysia, along with other ASEAN members, was prepared to help monitor the ceasefire. Both nations are expected to agree to withdraw troops from the border and accept independent monitoring to prevent further violence.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet called the talks “a very good meeting” and expressed hope they would bring an immediate end to the fighting. Cambodia has been pushing for a ceasefire since Friday, as its forces have been pushed back by the larger and better-equipped Thai military.

Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai spoke briefly, pledging to uphold the ceasefire agreement.

The current situation on the front lines remains unclear, as only military personnel have access to the conflict zones. Thailand claims to have seized several Cambodian-held hills and maintained a steady artillery offensive, including airstrikes on Cambodian positions.

Bangkok was initially hesitant to join the peace talks, insisting a ceasefire could only follow direct dialogue and “sincere intentions” from Cambodia—referring to the rocket attacks that have killed at least 14 Thai civilians.

While Malaysia formally brokered the peace talks, significant pressure reportedly came from Washington. President Trump’s ultimatum on Saturday night, threatening to halt tariff negotiations unless both sides stopped fighting, was likely a decisive factor in pushing them toward agreement.

Both Thailand and Cambodia are heavily reliant on exports to the U.S. Without a deal, they face a 36% tariff—placing them at a competitive disadvantage compared to neighbours like Vietnam and Indonesia, which already enjoy lower tariffs of 20% or less.

Despite the ceasefire, maintaining peace is expected to be challenging amid rising nationalist sentiments and deep-rooted mistrust between the two militaries.

Thailand has been particularly outraged by Thursday’s use of multiple rocket launchers, which caused most of the civilian deaths and significantly escalated what had been smaller skirmishes.

Older Thai residents near the border told the BBC that the recent bombardments were the worst since the Cambodian Civil War in the 1980s. On Sunday, the Thai military reported evacuating nearly 140,000 civilians to shelters across seven provinces.

In Cambodia, where media freedom is limited, the pro-government Khmer Times cited a defence ministry spokesperson who said around 135,000 people had been relocated on Sunday.

A 75-year-old Cambodian woman evacuated to a shelter told the BBC on Monday that she still felt unsafe, saying she could hear Thai drones flying overhead. “I want to see the war stop this evening,” she said.

Source: BBC

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