Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to hold ceasefire negotiations following an intense round of diplomacy led by U.S. President Donald Trump, marking the first major breakthrough in a rapidly escalating border conflict that has killed at least 34 people and displaced over 168,000.

Trump announced on Saturday via Truth Social that he had spoken separately with both Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. In what appears to have been a turning point, Trump indicated he warned both governments that continued hostilities could jeopardize future trade agreements with the United States. Later that evening, Trump stated that both leaders had agreed to enter talks.

People rest inside a temporary shelter in Thailand’s Srisaket province on Saturday, amid the border clashes with Cambodia. Photo: Reuters

Hun Manet confirmed on Sunday that Cambodia had agreed to an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire,” claiming Thailand had also committed to halting attacks following the U.S. President’s intervention. He said he had directed his foreign minister, Prak Sokhonn, to work with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and engage directly with his Thai counterpart to coordinate next steps.

Thailand responded with cautious support, confirming its agreement “in principle” to a ceasefire but insisting that it would require “sincere intention” from the Cambodian side. The Thai Foreign Ministry also reiterated the importance of bilateral engagement and swift talks to lay out concrete terms for de-escalation.

Despite these diplomatic overtures, the fighting has continued along parts of the contested border, now in its fourth day, with both sides accusing each other of provocation and violating humanitarian law. On Sunday morning, Thai military officials reported new shelling in Surin province, claiming Cambodian forces had fired heavy artillery near civilian areas and launched rockets targeting the Ta Moan Thom temple – an ancient Hindu site claimed by both countries. Thai forces responded with long-range artillery aimed at disabling Cambodian rocket launchers.

Col. Richa Suksowanont, deputy spokesperson for the Thai army, dismissed the diplomatic overtures as “separate” from battlefield realities, stating that operations would continue until Cambodia formally initiated negotiations. The Thai Foreign Ministry later issued a statement accusing Cambodia of “severely lacking in good faith” and violating the principles of humanitarian law.

Cambodia issued its own condemnation of Thailand’s military actions. Defense Ministry spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata accused Thailand of launching a “large-scale incursion” into Cambodian territory, involving tanks and multiple ground troop units, in what she characterized as a deliberate attempt to derail the peace process.

Cambodians flee their homes in Oddar Meanchey province on Saturday amid the third day of border clashes with Thailand. Photo: AP

Sunday saw continued exchanges of artillery fire, with a new Thai soldier confirmed dead, raising the military death toll to 21, most of whom were civilians. Cambodian officials said 13 citizens had died. More than 131,000 Thai civilians have been evacuated to safe zones, while over 37,000 people in Cambodia have fled from three border provinces. In many villages, schools and clinics are shuttered, and entire neighborhoods have been abandoned.

The intensity of this week’s clashes makes it the deadliest confrontation between the two nations since at least 2011, and the most widespread since the long-standing border dispute re-emerged in 2008. The 500-mile land boundary remains partially undemarcated, with ownership of historic sites like Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom remaining central to the decades-old dispute.

While the International Court of Justice awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962, surrounding land remains contested. Tensions flared again in May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed during a confrontation. That incident created a diplomatic rift and introduced new volatility into Thailand’s domestic politics, where the ruling coalition has struggled to present a unified response.

This weekend’s breakthrough owes as much to outside pressure as to regional diplomacy. Trump’s threat to suspend future trade agreements appears to have jolted both sides into action, at least rhetorically. While his involvement has been described by Thai military officials as unrelated to field operations, it has nonetheless produced the first clear signal of mutual willingness to negotiate.

Military clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. Source: Reuters.

The ceasefire talks are scheduled to begin Monday in Kuala Lumpur, under the auspices of Malaysia, which currently chairs the ASEAN regional bloc. Acting Prime Minister Phumtham will lead the Thai delegation, while Prime Minister Hun Manet is expected to attend. ASEAN has historically struggled to mediate internal disputes between member states, bound by its non-interventionist framework. Still, the severity of the conflict has prompted urgent calls from the U.N. Security Council and human rights organizations for ASEAN to act decisively.

Human Rights Watch condemned the reported use of cluster munitions in populated areas during the fighting, a potential violation of international law, and called on both governments to ensure the protection of civilians. Evacuees in border regions are hoping that diplomacy will bring swift relief.

In Surin province, Pichayut Surasit, a technician who left his job in Bangkok to return to his family, described the experience as surreal. Now staying in a makeshift shelter with thousands of others, he said he is worried for his wife and twin daughters, still sheltering in a conflict zone. “I didn’t have the heart to continue my work when I heard the news,” he said.

Bualee Chanduang, a local vendor who fled with her family and pet rabbit, expressed hope that peace talks would yield results. “I pray for God to help that both sides can agree to talk and end this war,” she said from a camp housing displaced families.

Whether Monday’s talks can lead to a meaningful ceasefire remains to be seen. The trust deficit between Thailand and Cambodia is deep, and the strategic value of the disputed sites continues to inflame nationalist sentiment on both sides. But if the two governments follow through on the commitments made this weekend, the negotiations in Kuala Lumpur could mark the first step toward preventing a larger regional crisis.

The battlefield remains active, but the door to diplomacy is no longer closed. Whether that door stays open will depend on more than promises. It will require restraint, verification, and, above all, a willingness to prioritize peace over politics.

By I. Constantin