Singapore (VNA) – Following the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to discuss the situation between Thailand and Cambodia, Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has called on both countries to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and resume talks to resolve the border dispute peacefully.
In a Facebook post on December 22, Balakrishnan said he had urged Thailand and Cambodia to de-escalate the situation and resume negotiations as soon as possible, emphasising that unity is a key condition for ASEAN’s shared future. He welcomed the planned meeting of the Thailand – Cambodia General Border Committee on December 24.
Previously, ASEAN and the US brokered a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia in July, which was further strengthened by a commitment to an extended ceasefire reached in Malaysia in October in the presence of US President Donald Trump. Under the agreement, both sides pledged to withdraw heavy weapons from the border and undertake demining efforts. However, they continue to accuse each other of violating the agreement./.
