Officials from Thailand and Cambodia will meet next week to discuss the possibility of reviving a ceasefire, Thailand's foreign minister said, as deadly border clashes entered a third week.
Both countries had signed a ceasefire earlier in July, brokered by US President Donald Trump. However, fighting broke out again earlier this month, with both sides blaming each other for the resurgence of violence.
On Monday, top officials from both countries met at a summit in Malaysia, marking their first face-to-face discussion since the recent fighting resumed.
Thailand's Foreign Minister noted that the previous ceasefire agreement was hurriedly arranged, partly to accommodate the timeline of a US presidential visit.
We were sometimes in a rush because the US wanted it signed by the visit of President Trump, said Sihasak Phuangketkeow. He emphasized the need for a more thoroughly considered ceasefire that accurately reflects the ground realities.
A meeting of military officials from both countries is set for December 24, a crucial step prior to any formal ceasefire agreement. Cambodian officials have yet to respond to recent developments.
The renewed conflict has resulted in at least 41 deaths and nearly one million displacements since early December, with accusations of mutual blame for the hostilities.
The situation along the roughly 800km border has seen significant military engagement, including artillery exchanges and targeted airstrikes.
ASEAN member Malaysia, during the recent summit, urged both nations to address the situation with urgency, highlighting its implications for the larger community.
This conflict represents the most severe tensions between ASEAN member states since the organization's inception in 1967, undermining its credibility.
Both the US and China have expressed interest in mediating the conflict, with China indicating a commitment to facilitating dialogue between the two nations.
