France has voiced clear support for diplomatic initiatives led by Malaysia, China and the US to bring a peaceful resolution to the ongoing Cambodia–Thailand border conflict, as humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate on the ground.
The position was conveyed during a December 23 telephone call between Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot.
According to the foreign ministry, Sokhonn expressed Phnom Penh’s appreciation for France’s consistent backing of the peace process, particularly its support for the Ceasefire Agreement signed on July 28, and the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration of October 26.
“He underscored the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, resulting in the displacement of over half a million Cambodian civilians, as well as the damage inflicted on Cambodian cultural heritage sites amid the hostilities,” said the ministry.
Barrot, for his part, welcomed ASEAN’s renewed diplomatic engagement, praising the ASEAN Chair’s Statement issued at the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur on December 22.
The statement called for the resumption of dialogue between Cambodia and Thailand to defuse tensions.
Barrot also welcomed the planned meeting of the General Border Committee on December 24 as a concrete step toward de-escalation.
In a statement released by the French embassy to Cambodia, Barrot underscored the scale of the crisis and the need for urgent diplomacy.
“The conflict between Cambodia and Thailand has already displaced nearly one million people. I have called my Cambodian and Thai counterparts to encourage an immediate ceasefire. A just and lasting peace can only be achieved through negotiation,” he said.
At the conclusion of the call, Sokhonn reaffirmed Cambodia’s unwavering commitment to peace and to the full implementation of the ceasefire, while calling for sustained international engagement to ensure that ongoing diplomatic efforts lead to a durable and negotiated resolution of the conflict.
