2025 peace agreement between Cambodia and Thailand
Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord
Joint Declaration by the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand on the Outcomes of Their Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Signing ceremony on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, 26October2025(2025-10-26)
The Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord (officially the Joint Declaration by the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand on the Outcomes of Their Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) was a peace agreement signed on 26 October 2025 on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In the declaration, Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet and Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul affirmed "the unwavering commitment to peace and security between our two countries" and reiterated a pledge to "refrain from the threat or use of force, and to seek peaceful settlement of disputes".[1]
The accord also provided for the establishment of an ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) to monitor the implementation of a ceasefire, the withdrawal of heavy weapons from border areas under observation, joint humanitarian demining operations, restoration of confidence-building measures and diplomatic relations, and the prompt release of prisoners of war by Thailand as a demonstration of goodwill.[1]
The declaration was witnessed by Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim and United States president Donald Trump.
Background
From left to right: Anwar, Trump, Anutin and Manet after the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords, 26 October 2025.
Tensions along the Cambodia–Thailand borderescalated sharply in July 2025, resulting in the heaviest fighting between the two countries in over a decade. Artillery and airstrikes displaced an estimated 130,000 people and caused at least three dozen civilian deaths.[2][3]
After several days of hostilities, the parties agreed to an immediate ceasefire on 28 July 2025 during emergency talks in Putrajaya, Malaysia.[3] The truce – sometimes referred to as the Putrajaya Agreement – was brokered with support from ASEAN, Malaysia (then ASEAN chair), and representatives of the United States and China.[4] Subsequent meetings of a General Border Committee (GBC) and a Regional Border Committee (RBC) sought to consolidate the ceasefire and reopen communication channels.[5][6]
Formal negotiations to transform the July ceasefire into a durable settlement were held in Kuala Lumpur in late October 2025 alongside the ASEAN Summit. Malaysia hosted the bilateral sessions, with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim presiding as facilitator.[8] Observers from the United States attended the closing session, reflecting Washington's diplomatic involvement since July.[5][9][10]
According to the joint declaration, the talks culminated in an agreement "in the presence of and supported by" both the Malaysian Prime Minister and the President of the United States.[9] The outcome was described by ASEAN officials as a milestone towards "regional de-escalation and the re-establishment of normal diplomatic relations".[11] The United Nations welcomed the October joint declaration as consolidating the July ceasefire.[12]
The accord was signed following months of technical consultations between the Cambodian and Thai defence ministries on verification procedures for an observer mission and the modalities of troop withdrawal.[10][13]
Terms of the accord
The Joint Declaration included political, military, and humanitarian commitments:[1]
Principles of peace and non-use of force: Both sides reaffirmed their adherence to the principles of the UN Charter and the ASEAN Charter, undertaking to resolve disputes peacefully and respect existing boundaries.
Implementation of prior border agreements: The parties reconfirmed the validity of mechanisms such as the General Border Committee, the Regional Border Committee, and the Joint Boundary Commission as frameworks for dispute settlement.
ASEAN Observer Team (AOT): A Terms of Reference for an ASEAN Observer Team was signed concurrently with the declaration. The AOT, composed of personnel from ASEAN member states, is mandated to "ensure the full and effective implementation of the ceasefire" and to report its findings to ASEAN.
Military de-escalation: Under AOT supervision, both sides agreed to withdraw heavy and destructive weapons from border areas and return them to regular bases. Military liaison teams were tasked with drafting a detailed action plan and timeline.
Information restraint: The parties committed to avoid "false information, accusations, allegations, and harmful rhetoric," whether through official or unofficial channels, in order to reduce tensions.
Confidence-building and diplomatic restoration: Immediate implementation of joint civil-military programmes and border coordination was mandated, with a stated goal of restoring full diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Humanitarian de-mining: Joint operations are to be conducted to remove landmines and unexploded ordnance "to protect civilian lives and contribute to socio-economic development."
Cessation of hostilities and prisoner release: The declaration provides that, upon completion of de-escalation measures, both sides will recognise the cessation of active hostilities. Thailand undertook to "promptly release the prisoners of war" captured during the July conflict as a confidence-building step.
Transnational-crime cooperation: The governments agreed to strengthen coordination on issues such as trafficking, illegal arms trade, and smuggling across the border region.
Signatories and witnesses
The accord was signed on 26 October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, and was issued in quadruplicate in the English language.[1]
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