Thailand and Cambodia agree to immediate and unconditional ceasefire, says Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim

In a major step toward peace, Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire. The announcement was made by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who led the peace talks as head of the ASEAN regional bloc. Anwar said both countries have decided to take actions that will help bring back normal conditions in the region.

At a press conference, Anwar read a joint statement signed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. According to the statement, the ceasefire will begin at midnight on July 28. Both leaders welcomed the results of the meeting and were seen shaking hands at the end of the event.

Talks pushed forward by Trump’s warning

On July 27, both Thailand and Cambodia showed they were ready to hold talks to end the deadly border conflict. This came after U.S. President Donald Trump played a key role in encouraging both sides to negotiate. Trump reportedly warned both countries that he would stop trade talks with them if the violence continued. On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump shared that he had spoken with the leaders of both nations and asked them to agree to a peaceful solution.

At least 33 people have died in the recent clashes, and more than 168,000 people have been forced to leave their homes. Trump’s message seemed to have had an effect, as both countries agreed to meet and talk soon after.

How the fighting started

The fighting began on Thursday when a land mine exploded along the border, injuring five Thai soldiers. Both countries blamed each other for the explosion and the violence that followed. The situation quickly got worse. Thailand closed its border crossings with Cambodia and both nations recalled their ambassadors.

Even though efforts were being made to bring peace, fighting continued through Sunday. Each side accused the other of making the situation worse. Cambodia’s Defence Ministry spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata said that Thai forces bombed Cambodian land and then entered with tanks and ground troops. Thailand, on the other hand, said that Cambodia was responsible for restarting the fighting.

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Despite the serious tensions, the recent agreement for a ceasefire has brought hope. Now, both sides are expected to take steps to reduce military actions and restore peace in the region. The ASEAN bloc is likely to continue monitoring the situation closely.