Cambodia Urges Trump to Press Thailand on Release of Detained Soldiers Ahead of ASEAN Peace Accord

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Oct.16, 2025) — A Cambodian foreign affairs expert on Thursday called on U.S. President Donald Trump to pressure Thailand to release 18 Cambodian soldiers allegedly detained after a ceasefire agreement took effect in late July, warning that the credibility of the upcoming peace accord hinges on Thailand’s compliance.

Kin Phea, director general of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the Thai military has failed to honor the terms of the July 28 ceasefire and accused it of holding the soldiers as hostages.

“President Trump will witness the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Accord at the ASEAN Summit,” Phea told reporters in Phnom Penh. “We urge him to raise this issue directly with Thai leaders and demand the unconditional release of our soldiers, just as he did in past peace efforts between Israel and Palestine.”

Phea noted that the issue was absent from a recent four-party meeting in Malaysia involving Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the United States. He said Trump’s presence at the summit could serve as a decisive signal to ensure Thailand upholds its commitments.

“Even though the ceasefire was signed with President Trump’s support, Thailand has yet to fully implement it,” Phea said. “His presence in Kuala Lumpur may reinforce the spirit of the agreement and compel compliance.”

The Kuala Lumpur Accord, expected to be signed during the ASEAN Summit from Oct. 26 to 28, calls for both Cambodia and Thailand to withdraw heavy weaponry and remove landmines from disputed border zones. The deal follows deadly clashes earlier this year that left dozens dead and displaced thousands.

Deth Sok Udom, a professor at Paragon International University, warned that the peace accord would lack legitimacy if the detained soldiers remain in custody.

“Thailand must demonstrate diplomatic sincerity,” Udom said. “Failure to release the soldiers undermines the ceasefire and violates humanitarian principles.”

Udom also urged ASEAN to deploy a neutral observer team to monitor border compliance and report violations. He said any breach should trigger diplomatic and legal consequences, including potential United Nations Security Council action or U.S. sanctions targeting military and economic ties.

President Trump is expected to attend the summit in Kuala Lumpur as part of a broader U.S. diplomatic initiative in Southeast Asia, officials confirmed.