Thailand, Cambodia to Restart Talks After Trump-Brokered Ceasefire Collapses, Killing 41

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to hold military-level talks next week in a bid to end a deadly border conflict that has entered its third week, according to Thailand’s foreign minister. The move comes after a US-brokered ceasefire fell apart earlier this month, sparking renewed fighting that has killed at least 41 people and displaced nearly one million. Both sides blame each other for the fresh hostilities.

Speaking after a meeting at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia on Monday, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said the previous ceasefire, signed in July, was flawed from the start. He suggested it was fast-tracked to align with a visit from then-US President Donald Trump.

We were sometimes in a rush because the US wanted it signed by the visit of President Trump. But sometimes we really just need to sit down, trash things out... make sure that the ceasefire reflects the situation on the ground. And the ceasefire is one that really holds.

Mr. Phuangketkeow confirmed that a meeting between military officials from both nations is scheduled for December 24, stating it's a necessary first step before any new agreement can be reached. Cambodia has not yet officially commented on the planned talks.

The conflict is considered the worst between ASEAN member states since the bloc's founding in 1967, representing a significant blow to its credibility. At the summit, Malaysia's foreign minister urged members to give the matter their "most urgent attention." Both the U.S. and China are also attempting to mediate. China's special envoy, Deng Xijun, visited Phnom Penh last week, and Beijing stated it has been mediating "in its own way," signaling the broader geopolitical stakes of the conflict as great powers vie for influence in Southeast Asia.

The dispute between the two neighbors dates back more than a century, but tensions have flared dramatically this year. The most recent fighting has involved heavy artillery exchanges and Thai air strikes along the 800km (500-mile) border. As diplomats work to bring the parties back to the table, the upcoming military talks on December 24 will be a critical test of whether a more durable peace can be achieved.