According to diplomatic sources, U.S. President Donald Trump directly intervened to warn Cambodian and Thai leaders that bilateral trade negotiations would not proceed without a ceasefire. The pressure contributed to bringing both sides back to the table after weeks of stalled diplomacy, despite earlier mediation efforts from China and ASEAN chair Malaysia.

In a press conference, Thai Deputy Defense Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit announced that ASEAN attaches based in Thailand and Cambodia would monitor the truce under Malaysian leadership. However, he clarified that observers would not cross the border between the two countries. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet confirmed on social media that both parties agreed on ceasefire implementation terms and better military communication.

Border Dispute And Ceasefire Implementation

The ceasefire terms emerged from three days of talks between senior officials, capped by a final negotiation session on Thursday. Thailand and Cambodia issued a joint statement committing to another round of talks in two weeks and again in one month.

The fighting stemmed from longstanding tensions over undemarcated sections of their 817-km shared border—originally mapped by French colonial authorities in 1907. Last month’s clashes saw artillery shelling and airstrikes before a late-July ceasefire paused hostilities.

Despite the agreement, observers warn that the root of the dispute remains unresolved. For now, the deployment of ASEAN observers aims to prevent further escalations and pave the way for a more durable solution.