ASIATODAY.ID, KUALA LUMPUR — Rising tensions along the Cambodia–Thailand border have prompted direct engagement by ASEAN.
Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sugiono, attended the ASEAN Special Meeting of Foreign Ministers on the Situation between Cambodia and Thailand in Kuala Lumpur on December 22, 2025, following the escalation that began on December 8, 2025.
The high-level meeting was chaired by the Foreign Minister of Malaysia in his capacity as ASEAN Chair and attended by the foreign ministers of all ASEAN member states.
Myanmar was represented by the Permanent Secretary of its Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a non-political representative, while Vietnam participated at the senior officials’ level.
During the meeting, Indonesia expressed its appreciation for Malaysia’s leadership and urged all parties to exercise restraint, halt military actions, and immediately return to dialogue and diplomacy, in line with the ASEAN Charter and the spirit of ASEAN unity.
Indonesia also underscored the serious humanitarian consequences of the conflict, including civilian casualties, injuries, and the displacement of civilians on both sides of the border, stressing the urgency of addressing these concerns.
Minister Sugiono conveyed Indonesia’s readiness to play a constructive role, including through potential contributions of personnel to the ASEAN Observer Team, to help monitor the situation on the ground in accordance with ASEAN’s mandate.
Furthermore, Indonesia emphasized the importance of strengthening ASEAN’s capacity for conflict prevention and peaceful dispute resolution, including through the effective use of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) and other ASEAN mechanisms.
The meeting resulted in a Chair’s Statement reaffirming ASEAN’s commitment to unity and ASEAN centrality, while calling on the parties concerned to rebuild trust and resume dialogue, both through bilateral mechanisms and with facilitation by the ASEAN Chair.
“At its core, Indonesia has always believed that our two ASEAN family members, Cambodia and Thailand, will find a peaceful path through dialogue with the full support of ASEAN,” Minister Sugiono said.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Minister Sugiono also held a bilateral meeting with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn to discuss efforts to further strengthen ASEAN’s role in maintaining regional peace and stability. (AT Network)
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