Kuala Lumpur (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Malaysian Foreign Minister announced on Sunday that Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to allow Malaysia to act as a mediator in their border dispute, as both countries said the other had carried out further artillery attacks across contested areas.
The beginning of intense fighting erupted starting on July 24, 2025, between Thailand and Cambodia along a disputed border in one of the deadliest escalations between the two Southeast Asian neighbors in over a decade. More than 33 deaths confirmed and greater than 200,000 displaced people from both sides of the border. Casualities included both civilians and soldiers.
Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan announced that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai are scheduled to arrive in Malaysia on Monday evening.
“They have full confidence in Malaysia and asked me to be a mediator,” Mohamad stated, adding he had spoken with his Cambodian and Thai counterparts, and they decided no other country should be involved in the matter.
Following Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s proposal for a ceasefire on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the two leaders had agreed to work together toward a ceasefire. Anwar Ibrahim, who leads the regional ASEAN forum, initiated the discussions, and the ongoing talks in Malaysia are held within this framework.
What triggered the recent fighting between Thailand and Cambodia?
What triggered the recent fighting between Thailand and Cambodia?
In May, armed forces from both Thai and Cambodian units shot at each other for a brief time in a claimed small border area, escalating the conflict. Both sides claimed self-defense.
Although both countries later claimed to agree to de-escalate, both Cambodian and Thai authorities still took or threatened actions short of armed force, mostly keeping tensions high. Border disputes have been ongoing tensions that periodically create problems between the two neighboring nations. Thailand and Cambodia have a combined land border that is over 800 kilometers long.
Thailand imposed strict border restrictions with Cambodia, and allowed only students, patients for medical reasons, and others with essential needs to cross the border. On Thursday, Thai authorities announced a complete border seal.
Cambodia also prohibited Thai movies and TV shows, halted the import of Thai fuel, fruits, and vegetables, and boycotted some international internet links and power supplies from its neighbor.
