Cambodia Marks First Anniversary of Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration, Reaffirms Peaceful Border Stance

Phnom Penh, October 26, 2026: Cambodia today commemorated the first anniversary of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration with Thailand, with Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet reaffirming the Kingdom's commitment to resolving all boundary disputes exclusively through peaceful means as tensions along the border persist.

In a statement posted on social media, PM Hun Manet said Cambodia still adheres to the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration — also referred to as the KL Peace Accords — and reaffirmed its commitment to the settlement of border disputes and border demarcation through peaceful means and international law, refraining from the threat or use of force. He identified the Regional Border Committee, the General Border Committee and the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) as the bilateral mechanisms through which border-related issues should be addressed peacefully.

"I would like to take this opportunity to, once again, thank President Donald Trump, and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, for their active roles and encouragement to achieve the KL Peace Accords and their continued support for a peaceful resolution of border disputes between Cambodia and Thailand, in order to achieve a sustainable peace between the two countries," PM Hun Manet said.

The declaration was signed on Oct. 26, 2025, on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and was endorsed by PM Hun Manet and then Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, in the presence of U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Chair of the 2025 ASEAN Summits.

The agreement followed armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai forces from July 24 to 28, 2025, which caused tragic losses of military personnel and civilians on both sides. The declaration was an important diplomatic initiative to reduce tensions and create conditions conducive to ending the conflict and restoring relations between the two neighbours.

On the eve of the anniversary, the U.S. Department of State reaffirmed Washington's support for the agreement, describing it as a landmark diplomatic achievement made possible by President Trump's leadership and commitment to peace. In a statement issued on Oct. 25, the department said the declaration demonstrated the power of American diplomacy to resolve conflicts and laid the foundation for peace between Cambodia and Thailand, adding that the United States would continue working with both countries to support implementation of the agreement.

Despite the declaration, renewed clashes erupted on Dec. 7, 2025, followed by a Joint Statement reached at the Third Special Meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee. Cambodia has since protested against Thai military activities in unlawfully occupied areas of Cambodian territory, including the deployment of shipping containers, the installation of barbed wire, the excavation of trenches and the construction of fortifications.

The Royal Government of Cambodia has stressed that it does not recognise any boundary line or territorial claim unilaterally asserted by Thailand, maintaining that activities on the ground do not prejudice Cambodia's legal rights or position concerning the international boundary. Cambodia has called on Thailand to honour its commitments to de-escalation, cease actions that could further heighten tensions, strengthen mutual trust and facilitate the peaceful settlement of disputes along the border.

As the declaration enters its second year, Cambodia has reaffirmed that international borders must not be changed by force and that all disputes with Thailand should be settled in accordance with international law and existing bilateral agreements.

Reported by The Khmer Today