The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia were scheduled to meet in Malaysia on Monday for ceasefire talks aimed at ending their deadly border dispute. The United States confirmed that its officials would be assisting in the peace process.
Thailand’s government said it was attending the negotiations, arranged by Malaysia in its capacity as chair of the ASEAN regional bloc. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that the talks were jointly organised with the involvement of the United States and the participation of China.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that State Department officials were already on the ground in Malaysia to support the peace initiative. His statement followed earlier remarks by President Donald Trump, who said he believed both leaders were willing to resolve the conflict.
“We want this conflict to end as soon as possible,” Rubio said in a statement issued late Sunday in the US and early Monday in Asia.
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia escalated in late May after the fatal shooting of a Cambodian soldier during a brief border clash. Both sides responded by reinforcing their border troops, plunging Thailand’s fragile coalition government into a diplomatic crisis.
The violence, which began in earnest last Thursday, has grown into the most serious fighting between the two Southeast Asian nations in over a decade. The conflict has claimed more than 30 lives, including over 20 civilians, and prompted the evacuation of more than 200,000 people from the border regions.
Anwar to Chair Talks
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim proposed the ceasefire talks shortly after fighting broke out and has been asked to chair the negotiations. Both China and the United States have offered to assist in the mediation process.
While Thailand expressed general support for a ceasefire, it had initially preferred bilateral negotiations. Cambodia, on the other hand, called for broader international involvement.
The outcome of the talks is expected to determine whether the region can de-escalate tensions and avoid further humanitarian fallout.
