The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia plan to meet in Malaysia to negotiate an end to hostilities. About this informsPolitician.
The meeting was initiated amid pressure from US President Donald Trump, who called for an end to the border conflict, which has been going on for a fourth day and has already claimed at least 34 lives, forcing more than 168,000 people to flee their homes.
Thailand’s Acting Prime Minister Phumtam Wechayakhai will attend the talks on Monday at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim “to discuss efforts to ensure peace in the region.”
On July 26, Donald Trump said he had spoken with the leaders of both countries and threatened to end trade deals with Thailand and Cambodia if the hostilities were not stopped. Later, he announced that the parties agreed to negotiations on a ceasefire.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on July 27 that Cambodia had agreed to an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire”. Trump told him, he said, that Thailand had also agreed to end the attacks after speaking with Phumtham. Hun Manet instructed his deputy to coordinate further actions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and establish direct contact with the Thai Foreign Minister to implement the agreements.
Thailand cautiously supported the initiative: Phumtham thanked Trump and confirmed that the country “in principle” agrees to the ceasefire, but stressed the need for “sincere intent” on the part of Cambodia. As reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, he called for urgent bilateral negotiations to determine concrete steps towards a peaceful settlement.
It will be recalled that armed clashes between the military of both countries took place on July 24 along the disputed border territory claimed by both Thailand and Cambodia.
The day before, the Thai authorities recalled their ambassador from Phnom Penh and announced the expulsion of the Cambodian diplomat from Bangkok. This happened after the incident with the detonation of a Thai soldier on a mine, which, according to Bangkok, was installed by the Cambodian military. Phnom Penh rejected these accusations.
Both sides blame each other for resolving the conflict. On July 25, Thailand claimed Cambodia had attacked civilians, while Cambodia accused Thailand of using cluster munitions.
At the same time, Thailand opposed the involvement of third parties in the settlement of the situation, including the US, China and Malaysia, and insists on a bilateral format of negotiations. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, for his part, appealed to the UN Security Council to consider the situation and condemn “unprovoked and deliberate military aggression” by Thailand.
