Kuala Lumpur: The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia are scheduled to meet in Malaysia on Monday to negotiate a resolution to four days of deadly border clashes, officials confirmed on Sunday. The talks, involving acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, will be mediated by Malaysian premier Anwar Ibrahim, who is acting in his capacity as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
According to Deutsche Welle, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated on Sunday that he has been approached to facilitate a peace settlement. He emphasized the importance of an immediate ceasefire as discussions on the parameters and conditions are underway.
US President Donald Trump also weighed in on the situation, claiming credit for the planned peace talks. Speaking on Sunday ahead of a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Turnberry, Scotland, Trump mentioned that he had communicated with both prime ministers and believed they were inclined towards a settlement. Previously, Trump had threatened to impose tariffs on Thailand and Cambodia if they failed to cease hostilities and agree to trade deals. He expressed optimism about a ceasefire and the prospects of peace and prosperity, stating on social media that the US would not engage in any trade deals with either country if the fighting continued.
As the diplomatic efforts unfold, clashes persisted on Sunday. A Cambodian Defense Ministry spokeswoman reported that Thai forces initiated an attack on areas around the village of Samraong early in the morning, followed by a significant incursion involving tanks and ground troops. She criticized these actions as undermining peace efforts and escalating the conflict.
Conversely, a Thai army spokesman accused Cambodian forces of firing artillery in the early hours and targeting civilian homes in Thailand’s eastern Surin province. The Thai Foreign Ministry confirmed the death of a Thai soldier and accused Cambodia of lacking good faith and violating human rights and humanitarian law.
The conflict has heightened nationalist sentiments, prompting the Thai government to issue a warning to its citizens to avoid any violence, including verbal, against Cambodians residing in Thailand. Residents along the border have been evacuating, with one 61-year-old Thai border resident expressing the urgency to leave due to safety concerns, as reported by the AFP news agency.