Cambodia and Thailand Allow ASEAN Observers to Monitor Ceasefire

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

KUALA LUMPUR — Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to welcome ASEAN military observers to monitor a fragile ceasefire in their contested border areas following the region’s deadliest armed conflict in over a decade. The agreement comes after five days of cross-border violence in late July that killed at least 43 people and forced over 300,000 residents to flee.

During a high-stakes meeting at Malaysia’s Armed Forces headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Cambodian Defence Minister General Tea Seiha and Thailand’s Acting Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit reached a deal that would deploy a neutral ASEAN observation team based in both countries. The mission will be coordinated and led by Malaysia, ASEAN’s current chair.

“An ASEAN-led observer team will be stationed in Thailand and Cambodia, but will not cross borders,” Narkphanit told reporters. “This will support mutual confidence and help both sides maintain peace along the frontier.”

The agreement marks a significant diplomatic step toward de-escalation after weeks of international concern.

The ceasefire discussions gained momentum only after U.S. President Donald Trump warned both nations that ongoing trade talks would be suspended unless immediate steps were taken to end hostilities, Reuters revealed. While earlier interventions by China and Malaysia had failed to produce results, Washington’s economic leverage prompted the two Southeast Asian neighbors to finally engage.

Observers from both the United States and China were present during the final round of talks, which spanned four days in Kuala Lumpur. The framework now agreed upon aims to serve as the foundation for long-term peacekeeping efforts under ASEAN oversight.

According to a joint statement, Thailand and Cambodia will hold follow-up negotiations in two weeks, followed by another round a month later. The peace plan also includes measures to strengthen direct communication channels between their military commands, reducing the chances of future miscalculation or escalation.

“We have reached an understanding that benefits both sides,” Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet shared on social media. “This agreement paves the way for stability and economic recovery in our border regions.”

The recent violence stems from a long-standing territorial dispute along the 817-kilometer (508-mile) Thailand-Cambodia land border, originally demarcated by colonial France in 1907. Sporadic flare-ups have occurred for years, often centered on areas near ancient temples and poorly defined zones.

This latest conflict saw the use of artillery shelling and fighter jets, bringing international alarm and regional displacement. ASEAN’s role as a peace mediator is now being tested as it works to ensure that the current ceasefire holds.

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