The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia are set to attend emergency mediation talks in Malaysia on Monday in an effort to de-escalate deadly border clashes, even as both sides accuse each other of launching new artillery strikes. The talks, scheduled for 3 p.m. local time, will be led by Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, while Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will also participate, according to a Thai government statement. Malaysia, as the current chair of ASEAN, is facilitating the negotiations amid growing regional concern over the conflict.
Tensions between the two Southeast Asian nations have surged since late May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a border skirmish. The situation worsened last week, with renewed fighting escalating into the deadliest clashes in over a decade. At least 30 people have been killed, including civilians on both sides, and more than 200,000 residents have fled border areas. The conflict has also strained Thailand’s fragile coalition government, raising fears of further instability.
The mediation follows calls for a ceasefire from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and U.S. President Donald Trump, who announced on Saturday that both sides had agreed to work toward halting hostilities. However, accusations continue to fly, with Cambodia’s Defense Ministry claiming Thai forces launched artillery strikes near historic temple complexes on Sunday. Thailand has denied the allegations, instead blaming Cambodian troops for initiating the attacks.
As diplomatic efforts intensify, civilians on both sides express hope for peace. “For me, I think it is great if Thailand agreed to stop fighting so both countries can live with peace,” said Sreung Nita, a university student in Phnom Penh. The upcoming talks offer a critical opportunity to prevent further bloodshed, but with deep-seated territorial disputes and military posturing, achieving a lasting resolution remains uncertain.