KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia and the United States are spearheading efforts to secure an expanded ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, with hopes of finalizing the deal during the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit later this month. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan announced the initiative on Tuesday, emphasizing the urgency of de-escalating tensions between the two neighboring nations. The conflict, which erupted in late July, resulted in five days of intense combat, claiming dozens of lives and displacing over 260,000 people. A temporary ceasefire was brokered in August through the mediation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to withhold trade privileges unless both parties agreed to a truce. However, tensions have persisted, particularly after Thai soldiers were injured by land mines in August while patrolling a buffer zone. Thailand accused Cambodia of violating the ceasefire by laying new mines, a claim vehemently denied by Phnom Penh. Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has outlined four conditions for a lasting peace, including the removal of heavy weapons from the border, land mine clearance, cooperation in curbing cross-border crime, and effective management of sensitive border zones. Mohamad revealed that ongoing negotiations aim to expand the ceasefire to address these issues, expressing optimism that the Kuala Lumpur Accord could be signed during the ASEAN summit, scheduled for October 26-28 in Kuala Lumpur. The summit is expected to attract over two dozen global leaders, including President Trump, who is slated to attend on October 26. ASEAN, comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore, continues to play a pivotal role in fostering regional stability.
US and Malaysia work to expand Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire in advance of ASEAN summit
