KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair, will convene a special meeting of foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur on Monday (Dec 22) to address escalating tensions between Cambodia and Thailand.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the meeting is expected to serve as a constructive platform for both countries to negotiate openly and resolve differences peacefully.
“The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting tomorrow is a suitable and constructive platform for both countries to negotiate openly, resolve differences peacefully, and reach a just and enduring settlement,” he said in a social media statement today.
Anwar confirmed he has also spoken with the prime ministers of Cambodia and Thailand to exchange views and discuss the best way forward to ease tensions between the two neighbours.
“I emphasise the importance for Cambodia and Thailand to uphold the spirit of dialogue, wisdom and mutual respect in order to end tensions and preserve peace and stability in this region,” he added.
The two countries have disputed parts of their 817‑kilometre land border for more than a century, with clashes over an ancient temple occasionally sparking armed conflict. In 2011, a week‑long exchange of artillery fire claimed many lives.
Tensions flared again in May this year after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a minor clash, triggering a sharp increase in troop deployments and fresh skirmishes that further strained diplomatic ties.
On Dec 17, Anwar reportedly said that the meeting would allow ASEAN to hold collective discussions, establish the facts on the ground and intensify efforts to persuade both sides to halt attacks along the front lines, beginning with an immediate ceasefire.
The Prime Minister added that the decision to convene the meeting - an initiative by Malaysia and ASEAN to ease tensions and prevent further escalation of the conflict - was reached, following ongoing negotiations with the Prime Ministers of Thailand and Cambodia.
Earlier, Wisma Putra in a statement said the special meeting, to be chaired by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, would provide ASEAN foreign ministers a platform to exchange views on the Cambodia–Thailand situation and consider possible steps towards de‑escalation.
The ministry added that the move reflects ASEAN’s commitment to unity, solidarity and centrality in safeguarding peace and stability in the region. - December 21, 2025
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