Cambodia Urges End to Thai Armed Aggression in Call with UK Indo-Pacific Minister

Cambodia Urges End to Thai Armed Aggression in Call with UK Indo-Pacific Minister

Phnom Penh, 21 December 2025 — His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister PRAK Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia, held a telephone conversation with Her Excellency Seema Malhotra MP, Minister for the Indo-Pacific at the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, to discuss the escalating Cambodia–Thailand border situation.

At the outset of the call, His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister PRAK Sokhonn expressed Cambodia’s sincere appreciation to the United Kingdom for its consistent support of the Cambodia–Thailand peace process, particularly the Ceasefire Agreement of 28 July 2025 and the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration of 26 October 2025. He reaffirmed Cambodia’s unwavering commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes and its full adherence to the agreed ceasefire and joint declaration, while noting with deep regret that the Thai side has unilaterally withdrawn from these arrangements.

His Excellency briefed the United Kingdom side on Cambodia’s grave concerns over the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation, emphasizing that nearly half a million Cambodian civilians have already been displaced, with numbers continuing to rise as a result of ongoing indiscriminate attacks by Thai forces. He underscored that the conflict has expanded well beyond border areas, with attacks reportedly extending up to 90 kilometers deep into Cambodian territory, significantly aggravating civilian suffering and posing a serious threat to national sovereignty and regional stability. In this context, he stressed the urgent necessity to bring an immediate end to Thailand’s illegal armed aggression against Cambodia.

In response, Her Excellency Seema Malhotra conveyed her deep condolences for the loss of lives and expressed heartfelt sympathies to the affected families and communities. She voiced serious concern over the impact of the conflict on civilian lives and infrastructure and reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s strong desire to see an immediate cessation of hostilities. She emphasized the United Kingdom’s keen interest in playing a constructive and stabilizing role, alongside ASEAN and other international partners, in support of a peaceful resolution and the prevention of further escalation.

Her Excellency further highlighted the importance of both parties engaging constructively within the ASEAN framework and expressed hope that the forthcoming ASEAN Ministerial Meeting would yield positive outcomes toward de-escalation, dialogue, and the restoration of peace.