Anwar Reassures Thailand, Offers to Mediate Renewed Border Dispute with Cambodia
Kuala Lumpur is offering to host fresh peace talks between Thailand and Cambodia as tensions resurface along their contested border, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirmed this weekend.The offer comes after both nations requested Malaysia’s assistance in de-escalating the long-running dispute.
the 817km land border between Thailand and Cambodia remains largely undemarcated, a legacy of a 1907 map drawn during French colonial rule. This ambiguity has fueled over a century of sovereignty claims and, recently, violent clashes. Fighting in July resulted in at least 48 deaths and displaced an estimated 300,000 people. Landmines in the disputed areas have also contributed to the instability, injuring at least seven Thai soldiers since July 16th.
While an initial truce was brokered in late July through the intervention of diplomatic efforts led by Anwar,alongside former US President Donald Trump and Chinese diplomats,a formal peace agreement – the “KL Peace Accord” – was signed in October on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit. Both Anwar and Trump were present as witnesses to the accord.
Though, tensions have as flared again, prompting Malaysia to step forward with an offer to facilitate renewed dialog. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan stated on November 14th that both Thailand and Cambodia had directly requested Kuala Lumpur as a venue for talks.
Addressing concerns about potential interference, Anwar emphasized Malaysia’s neutral position. ”I don’t know about the internal politics or domestic politics ther to suggest that we interfered,” he said during a press conference. ”Our friends in Thailand must not misunderstand this. Our interest is just to help them achieve peace. On the contrary, we must remain committed to our initial position on what is happening there.”
Anwar anticipates the border dispute will be discussed during an upcoming visit by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on November 26th.
