Cambodia and Thailand to attend ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Kuala Lumpur, says Anwar Ibrahim

 PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA: Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to attend a special ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Kuala Lumpur on 22 December 2025 to begin talks aimed at preventing further escalation along their disputed border.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the meeting would provide a platform for both sides to deliberate on easing tensions that have intensified in recent weeks despite previous peace efforts.

According to Anwar, the meeting was initially scheduled for 16 December 2025 but was postponed after several ASEAN leaders expressed concern that it had been convened too early.

“Most prime ministers alerted me, saying that probably it is too soon to hold a meeting before tensions can ease,” Anwar said during a briefing with senior editors at Seri Perdana on 17 December 2025.

He said ASEAN leaders subsequently proposed rescheduling the meeting to 22 December 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, with foreign ministers expected to attend and formally deliberate on the situation.

Anwar said the primary objective of the meeting is to persuade Cambodia and Thailand to halt escalating military actions along the disputed border areas.

“We are appealing to them to immediately stop this front-line offensive, and if possible, an immediate ceasefire,” he said.

He added that both sides were uncomfortable with the term “ceasefire”, as it could be interpreted as formal acceptance of responsibility or concessions.

“So, if you look at my statement, I urge the parties to observe this truce,” Anwar said, indicating a preference for language that would allow de-escalation without political sensitivity.

The Prime Minister stressed that Malaysia does not have the authority to issue instructions to ASEAN foreign ministers, but said Putrajaya has been in close and constant communication with regional counterparts.

Anwar said Malaysia has been engaging ASEAN leaders on a daily basis to maintain diplomatic momentum and encourage restraint on the ground.

He also revealed that the decision to convene the special meeting followed discussions with United States President Donald Trump.

“Trump called and updated me. I told President Trump that it is important to convince them to stop the offensive,” Anwar said, without elaborating on further details of the conversation.

In addition to diplomatic engagement, Anwar said Cambodia and Thailand had agreed to the establishment of an ASEAN Observers Team.

He added that Malaysia’s Chief of Defence Force would be travelling to the border area in the coming days to continue engagement at the military level.

“I am cautiously optimistic because when I spoke to both prime ministers, both were keen to achieve an amicable resolution as soon as possible,” he said.

“So, hopefully, by 22 December 2025, we can seal this understanding,” Anwar added.

Cambodia and Thailand are currently engaged in renewed border skirmishes, despite having signed the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord in October 2025.

The accord was intended to stabilise the long-disputed border but was suspended by Thailand in November 2025.

Thailand suspended the agreement after several of its soldiers were wounded by landmines along the border, according to Thai authorities.

On 18 December 2025, the Royal Thai Army reported four additional deaths in clashes with Cambodian forces.

This brought the total number of casualties since 8 December 2025 to 21, according to official military figures.

Thai authorities have also reported significant humanitarian consequences from the renewed fighting.

At least 52 people on both sides have been killed since clashes resumed, according to Thai officials.

More than 400,000 civilians have been displaced from border areas amid ongoing insecurity.

Approximately 200 hospitals and primary care centres have suspended operations due to safety concerns.

Nearly 400 schools have also been forced to close temporarily, disrupting education for thousands of children in affected regions.