Kuala Lumpur 2025: Rediscovered Peace Between Cambodia and Thailand, a Historic Diplomatic Turning Point

Sunday, October 26, 2025, will remain engraved in the history of Southeast Asia as the day when Cambodia and Thailand concluded the Kuala Lumpur Declaration of Peace, putting an end to months of deadly clashes along their shared border.

Signed by Hun Manet and Anutin Charnvirakul, and sponsored by U.S. President Donald Trump as well as Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the agreement marks a major step forward for regional stability and ASEAN diplomacy

Beyond the ceremonial pomp, this declaration symbolizes the revival of a bilateral dialogue long undermined by territorial disputes and mutual suspicions. After the July clashes — the most violent in a decade — the Putrajaya Ceasefire had paved the way for this peaceful resolution.

A Signing at the Heart of the ASEAN Summit

The scene was solemn: flags, cameras, and applause accompanied the signing of the document on the stage of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur. Under Malaysia’s rotating chairmanship, the theme of “inclusiveness and sustainability” resonated through this unexpected reconciliation. Hun Manet and Anutin reaffirmed their “unwavering commitment to peace, security, and mutual respect for sovereignty,” according to the official text released by the White House.

Content of the Agreement

Immediate cessation of hostilitiesBoth parties committed to ending all military and artillery action in the disputed areas, especially around the Preah Vihear temple and the localities of Ban-Nong-Chan and Ban-Nong-Yaa-Keu. This truce continues the ceasefire signed in Putrajaya in July 2025.

Withdrawal of troops and heavy weaponsAn essential clause of the accord mandates the gradual withdrawal of armed units and heavy weapons from sensitive border zones, in order to rebuild trust between the two armies and reduce the risk of renewed clashes.

Release of prisoners of warThailand pledged to release 18 Cambodian soldiers captured during the July fighting. This measure, seen as the first concrete gesture of peace, was praised by Phnom Penh as a sign of good faith.

Launch of demining operationsBoth governments agreed to cooperate on the complete demining of border areas, particularly in Surin and Oddar Meanchey provinces, still littered with mines from past conflicts.

Creation of a regional observation missionAn ASEAN observer team, mainly composed of Malaysian officers, will be deployed to monitor the truce’s implementation and produce regular reports on security conditions in border zones.

Establishment of a bilateral border management mechanismThe parties will create a Joint Border Delimitation Committee responsible for conducting joint topographical surveys and coordinating management of crossings in a framework of lasting economic and security cooperation.

Combating transnational criminal networksThe text includes provisions for police cooperation targeting organized crime networks — notably online scams and human trafficking operating in cross-border zones.

Respect for international law and sovereigntyThe agreement reaffirms non-use of force, respect for national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and equality among states, in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter and the ASEAN Charter.

Monitoring Mechanisms and Graduated Sanctions

The Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord between Cambodia and Thailand includes several monitoring and graduated sanction mechanisms designed to ensure compliance with the commitments made on October 26, 2025, during the ASEAN Summit. While diplomatically phrased — the agreement being more of a political framework than a legally binding treaty — it sets out precise measures for enforcement.

Graduated diplomatic measuresAny confirmed violation (such as redeployment of units, refusal to withdraw, obstruction of inspections, or resumption of hostilities) would trigger:

• A diplomatic alert issued by the ASEAN Chair;

• Temporary suspension of bilateral military cooperation and high-level meetings until compliance is restored;

• Official notification to the White House and the UN Secretariat if the breach is deemed serious or prolonged.

President Donald Trump and Anwar Ibrahim, as guarantors of the mediation, have the authority to convene an emergency meeting of heads of state to prevent military escalation.

Implicit economic sanctionsAlthough no formal international sanctions appear in the main text, Washington stated that trade cooperation and investment agreements signed in parallel could be reviewed or suspended in case of ceasefire breaches. These economic levers — described by President Trump as “incentives for peace” — aim to discourage military action by linking political stability to business continuity.

Regional arbitration clauseThe accord also provides, under the ASEAN Charter, for peaceful dispute resolution: in case of mediation failure, the issue may be referred to the ASEAN Conciliation Committee for arbitration, or even to the International Court of Justice with mutual consent.

Public reporting and naming mechanismTo increase moral pressure, the accord requires quarterly publication of violation reports by the observation mission. These reports, made public, serve as diplomatic warnings. States that repeatedly violate the agreement could be named publicly during ASEAN summits — through a naming-and-shaming process.

In summary, the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord relies less on coercive sanctions than on a system of diplomatic and economic pressure, supported by regional mediation and international political guarantees. Its effectiveness depends on systematic monitoring, transparency, and the political cost of non-compliance in a region that now values stability as a shared interest.

The Key Role of U.S. and Malaysian Diplomacy

Donald Trump, present in Malaysia for the ASEAN Summit and other trade talks, credited himself with having “made peace possible where others failed.”According to the White House statement, the U.S. President not only facilitated rapprochement but also coupled peace with reciprocal economic deals with Phnom Penh and Bangkok.

Anwar Ibrahim was hailed as a skillful mediator who helped reconcile the two neighbors after months of tension. It was he who, back in July, organized the Putrajaya talks — the prelude to this diplomatic normalization.

A Lasting Peace or a Fragile Truce?

While the international community unanimously welcomes this step toward peace, several analysts urge caution.Thai political scientist Sihasak Phuangketkeow noted that the text is “more of a joint declaration than a definitive treaty,” insisting on the need for rigorous field monitoring.

The two countries share an 800-kilometer border, the site of numerous incidents over the decades — particularly around the Preah Vihear temple. The imminent deployment of the regional observer mission will therefore be crucial to prevent further clashes.

Significantly, this détente also marks the return of ASEAN as a core diplomatic actor in managing internal bloc crises. After years of division, cooperation among Kuala Lumpur, Phnom Penh, and Bangkok demonstrates a willingness to resolve disputes “the Southeast Asian way” — through dialogue and non-interference.

A Signal for the Region

Beyond Cambodia and Thailand, the Kuala Lumpur Declaration could redefine the political balance in the region. By placing peace under both ASEAN and U.S. sponsorship, the signatories affirm a dual-anchor diplomacy — regional and global.As tensions remain high in the South China Sea, this compromise sends a clear message: peace in Asia starts with regional cooperation.

While some critics call it a “Trump-centered accord” serving both American and Indochinese interests, others view it as the beginning of a new era of trust and stability.

A New Chapter for ASEAN

Ultimately, the peace sealed in Kuala Lumpur is not merely the end of a border conflict but the renewal of a regional community capable of managing its internal tensions. For both Cambodia and Thailand, normalization opens the way to cross-border economic and cultural initiatives in a spirit of lasting reconciliation.

At a time when the world fears fragmented alliances, Southeast Asia proves that peace can still be built through dialogue and political will. The KL Peace Accord not only ends a conflict but also embodies the political resilience of an entire region determined to turn the page of arms and write that of cooperation.