Thailand, Cambodia agree to ceasefire talks after border clashes displace thousands

Clashes along the Thailand–Cambodia border erupted on July 24, marking the worst fighting between the two countries in more than a decade. At least 35 people have been killed, including civilians and soldiers on both sides, and over 200,000 have fled their homes as artillery fire, rockets and Thai airstrikes hit villages near disputed temple zones, according to the Associated Press. Both governments accuse each other of starting the conflict.

Casualties include an 8-year-old Thai boy and multiple Cambodian civilians. Thousands of displaced families are sheltering with monks, NGOs and volunteers as schools and markets close across the border region. One survivor, Komsan Prachan, mourned the loss of his wife and two children in a rocket strike, calling his wife his “other half.”

Both nations agreed to attend ASEAN-led talks in Malaysia on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly warned that trade deals would be blocked and tariffs imposed if the violence continued. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet declared his support for an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” while Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said Thailand “agrees in principle to have a ceasefire in place” but added it depended on “sincere intention from the Cambodian side.”

At the center of the clashes are border disputes of areas near the Preah Vihear temple, a flashpoint since colonial-era map disputes and the 1962 International Court of Justice decision. Analysts say the violence also reflects deeper political rivalries, with Thailand supported by the U.S. and Cambodia backed by China. Thai forces have sealed crossings and declared martial law in border provinces. The crisis tests ASEAN’s ability to mediate and could impact upcoming elections in both countries as military operations continue amid the diplomatic efforts.