Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have called for an immediate ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia as border clashes between the two nations enter their fifth day, leaving dozens dead and thousands displaced.
In a joint statement issued late Saturday, ASEAN expressed “deep concern” over the mounting casualties and worsening humanitarian conditions in the disputed frontier region. The bloc urged both governments to de-escalate tensions immediately and commit to peaceful dialogue.
“We further urge both sides to cease all hostilities, return to the negotiating table to restore peace and stability, and settle disputes and differences by peaceful means,” the statement read.
Clashes erupted earlier this week near the centuries-old temple complex of Preah Vihear, a long-contested site on the mountainous border between Cambodia and Thailand. The fighting has claimed at least 33 lives, including civilians, and triggered mass evacuations on both sides of the border.
The escalating violence has alarmed neighboring countries and regional partners, with ASEAN now stepping up diplomatic pressure to prevent a wider crisis.
The foreign ministers’ plea comes ahead of a high-stakes meeting scheduled for Monday in Kuala Lumpur, where Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet are expected to hold direct talks. The meeting is being hosted by Malaysia, which has offered to mediate the dispute.
ASEAN has a longstanding policy of non-interference in member states’ internal affairs, but the bloc has occasionally taken a more active diplomatic role during regional flashpoints. With casualties rising and tensions showing little sign of abating, the group appears determined to press both nations toward a peaceful resolution.
International attention has also intensified in recent days. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke separately with both leaders on Saturday, urging them to “work quickly” toward a ceasefire. Cambodia has since stated its willingness to halt hostilities, while Thailand has signaled conditional support for a ceasefire, contingent on further negotiations.
As leaders prepare to meet, the region watches closely, hoping Monday’s discussions will bring an end to the deadliest confrontation between the two countries in over a decade.
