Thailand-Cambodia sign expanded ceasefire deal at Asean summit
Thailand and Cambodia have signed an expanded ceasefire agreement aimed at cementing peace along their long-disputed border, following months of deadly clashes that killed dozens and displaced hundreds of thousands.
The agreement was signed on Saturday (26 October) in Kuala Lumpur by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on the sidelines of the annual ASEAN Summit. The signing ceremony was attended by US President Donald Trump, who played a key role in brokering the deal after threatening to impose higher tariffs on both nations to pressure them into ending the hostilities.
Under the new agreement, Thailand has agreed to release 18 detained Cambodian soldiers, while both countries will begin removing heavy artillery and military installations from border zones in stages over the coming weeks. The accord also includes provisions for joint patrols, cross-border trade facilitation, and the establishment of a bilateral monitoring committee under ASEAN supervision.
The ceasefire builds on a July truce that halted months of intense fighting along the 800-kilometre frontier — an area historically contested and home to several flashpoints, including around the ancient Preah Vihear temple. Recent clashes, the most severe in over a decade, forced tens of thousands to take shelter in temporary camps on both sides of the border.
Trump, speaking at the summit, hailed the deal as “a step toward lasting stability in Southeast Asia,” adding that Washington would continue to support ASEAN-led peace initiatives.
The ASEAN Summit also marked a milestone for the regional bloc, as East Timor officially joined as its 11th member — the first expansion since the late 1990s. East Timor’s Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão described the nation’s entry as “a dream realized,” expressing hope that membership would accelerate economic development and regional integration.
ASEAN leaders are expected to discuss regional security, trade cooperation, and ongoing tensions in the South China Sea during the three-day summit.
.png "Advertisement")
