Leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia reach no breakthrough on decades-long conflict
The two nations are working toward a peace treaty after Azerbaijan regained full control of the Karabakh province that had been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces, backed by Armenia, since the 1990s.
Despite both sides agreeing on the wording of a potential bilateral peace treaty in March, the talks on Thursday brought about little clarity on when the treaty could be finalized.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev instead both pledged to continue work on sensitive issues such as border demarcation.
In a joint statement published Thursday, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to bilateral negotiations and said the two sides would continue 'confidence building measures.'
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in a bitter conflict over territory since the early 1990s, when ethnic Armenian forces took control over the Karabakh province and nearby territories.
A six-week war in 2020 resulted in Azerbaijan retaking large parts of the breakaway region. In September 2023, Azerbaijani forces launched a lightning blitz to retake remaining portions, forcing Karabakh's Armenian authorities to capitulate in negotiations mediated by Russian forces. Armenia later also handed over several border villages to Azerbaijan.
Both sides also have struggled to resolve a dispute over opening a land corridor to Azerbaijan's Nakhichevan exclave, passing through Armenia's Syunik region.
Last year, Pashinyan said that Armenia needs to quickly define the border with Azerbaijan to avoid a new round of hostilities. Many residents of Armenia's border regions have resisted the demarcation effort, seeing it as Azerbaijan's encroachment on areas they consider their own.
A series of demonstrations last year protested against the transfer of villages to Azerbaijani control and called for Pashinyan's resignation.
Pashinyan has responded to the growing tension by cracking down on protest leaders.
Two leaders of the opposition group Sacred Struggle, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan and Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan — senior leaders in the country's influential Apostolic Church — were placed in pre-trial detention in recent weeks after being accused of taking part in an alleged plot to overthrow the government.
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Reuters
25 minutes ago
- Reuters
Thai and Cambodian leaders head to Malaysia for peace talks
BANGKOK/PHNOM PENH, July 28 (Reuters) - The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia were set to hold talks in Malaysia on Monday to reach a ceasefire in their deadly border dispute, with the United States saying its officials would be assisting in the peace process. Thailand's government said it was attending talks arranged by Malaysia in its role as chair of the regional ASEAN bloc, while Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said the talks were co-organised by the United States with the participation of China. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said State Department officials were in Malaysia to assist peace efforts, after President Donald Trump had earlier said that he thought both leaders wanted to settle the conflict. "We want this conflict to end as soon as possible," Rubio said in statement released late on Sunday in the U.S. and early Monday in Asia. "State Department officials are on the ground in Malaysia to assist these peace efforts." Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have intensified since the killing in late May of a Cambodian soldier during a brief border skirmish. Border troops on both sides were reinforced amid a full-blown diplomatic crisis that brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse. Hostilities broke out last Thursday and have escalated into the worst fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbours in more than a decade. The death toll has risen above 30, including more than 20 civilians, while authorities report that more than 200,000 people have been evacuated from border areas. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had proposed ceasefire talks soon after the border dispute erupted into conflict on Thursday, and China and the United States also offered to assist in negotiations. Thailand had said it supported calls for a ceasefire in principle but wanted to negotiate bilaterally, while Cambodia had called for international involvement. Anwar said he expected to chair the negotiations after being asked by representatives of the two governments to try to find a peace settlement, state media agency Bernama reported. "So, I'm discussing the parameters, the conditions, but what is important is (an) immediate ceasefire," he said late on Sunday.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Thailand and Cambodia to hold peace talks as Trump urges them to settle differences
Donald Trump has said he believed both Thailand and Cambodia wanted to settle their differences after he told the leaders of both countries that he would not conclude trade deals with them unless they ended their fighting. On Monday, Thai and Cambodian leaders will meet in Malaysia for talks to end hostilities, a spokesperson for the Thai prime minister's office said on Sunday. The deadly border dispute, now in its fourth day, has killed at least 35 people and displaced more than 218,000. Trump told reporters in Turnbery, Scotland: 'I spoke to both of the prime ministers, and I think by the time I got off, I think they want to settle now.' A spokesperson for Thailand's acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, said the leader would attend Monday's talks in response to an invitation from Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim 'to discuss peace efforts in the region'. Anwar has been acting in his capacity as this year's chair of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet confirmed his participation as well. 'I will lead [the] Cambodian delegation to attend a special meeting in Kuala Lumpur hosted by Malaysia, co-organised by the United States and with participation of China,' he said. China is a close ally of Cambodia, and early in the fighting urged the two nations to resolve their differences peacefully. Hun Manet's statement appeared to be the first mention of a Chinese link to Monday's planned talks. Trump posted on the Truth Social social network on Saturday that he spoke to the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia and suggested he would not move forward with trade agreements with either country if the hostilities continued. Hun Manet said earlier on Sunday his country agreed to pursue an 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire'. He said Trump told him that Thailand had also agreed to halt attacks after the US president's conversation with Phumtham. Phumtham thanked Trump and qualified Thailand's position, saying it agreed in principle to a ceasefire but stressed the need for 'sincere intention' from Cambodia, the Thai foreign ministry said. US state department spokesperson Tammy Bruce on Sunday said the US 'is prepared to facilitate future discussions in order to ensure peace and stability' between the two countries, and that secretary of state Marco Rubio had spoken to the foreign ministers of both Thailand and Cambodia, urging them 'to de-escalate tensions immediately and agree to a ceasefire'. The fighting flared on Thursday after a landmine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Both sides blamed each other for starting the clashes. Both countries recalled their ambassadors and Thailand closed its border crossings with Cambodia, with an exception for migrant Cambodian workers returning home. Despite the diplomatic efforts, fighting continued on Sunday along parts of the contested border, with both sides refusing to budge and trading blame over renewed shelling and troop movements. Colonel Richa Suksowanont, a Thai army deputy spokesperson, said Cambodian forces fired heavy artillery into Surin province, including at civilian homes, early on Sunday. He said Cambodia also launched rocket attacks targeting the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple, claimed by both countries, and other areas in a bid to reclaim territory secured by Thai troops. Thai forces responded with long-range artillery to strike Cambodian artillery and rocket launchers. Battlefield operations would continue and a ceasefire can only happen if Cambodia formally initiates negotiations, he added. 'Cambodian attacks remain irregular and may constitute violations of rules of engagement, posing further risk to border communities,' said the Thai military's daily summary of the fighting issued on Sunday night. 'The situation remains highly tense, and it is anticipated that Cambodia may be preparing for a major military operation prior to entering negotiations,' it said. Cambodian defense ministry spokesperson Lt Gen Maly Socheata accused Thai forces of escalating the violence with bombardment of Cambodian territory early on Sunday, followed by a 'large-scale incursion' involving tanks and ground troops in multiple areas. 'Such actions undermine all efforts toward peaceful resolution and expose Thailand's clear intent to escalate rather than de-escalate the conflict,' she said. Thailand on Sunday reported a new death of a soldier, bringing its total number of fatalities to 22, mostly civilians. Cambodia said 13 people have been killed, though it was unclear if that included Lt. Gen. Duong Samnieng, whose death in combat was announced on Sunday. More than 139,000 people in Thailand have evacuated to safe locations and over 79,000 people fled from three Cambodian provinces. Many border villages are mostly deserted, with many schools and hospitals shut. With Associated Press and Reuters
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
The bitter feud fuelling the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia
The dispute over Thailand and Cambodia's contested border, which dates back more than a century to disagreements over colonial-era maps, has broken into conflict before. But the most recent clashes, which erupted on Thursday, have been fuelled by another factor: a bitter feud between two powerful political patriarchs. Hun Sen, 72, and Thaksin Shinawatra, 76, former leaders of Cambodia and Thailand, were once such close friends they reportedly called one another brothers. Hun Sen has, over the years, supported Thaksin's family during their long-running power struggle with Thailand's military. Thaksin and his sister Yingluck stayed at Hun Sen's home after they were ousted from power, while Hun Sen appointed Thaksin an economic adviser to the Cambodian government. Thaksin frequently visited Cambodia, and Hun Sen was the first foreign guest to see the former Thai leader after he returned home after more than 15 years in self-imposed exile. But relations have broken down spectacularly over recent months. The exact reasons for their feud are unclear, but analysts say it has created an additional layer of volatility that is exacerbating deadly clashes on the neighbouring countries' border. Hun Sen and Thaksin are no longer in office in their respective countries, but both remain powerful. Hun Sen ruled for almost 40 years until 2023, when his eldest son Hun Manet became prime minister after running virtually uncontested in a sham election. Thaksin's daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra became prime minister last year. The extent of their falling out became clear last month, when Hun Sen leaked a recording of a phone conversation between himself and Paetongtarn. In the call, which was about the border dispute, Paetongtarn called Hun Sen 'uncle' and told him if there was anything he wanted, she would 'take care of it'. She also made disparaging comments about a senior Thai military commander. The leaked recording caused uproar in Thailand. Critics accused her of kowtowing to Cambodia, putting her family connections before the country's national interests. She was suspended from office by the constitutional court in July pending an investigation into ethical violations. It's not clear why Hun Sen chose to turn on his former friends. He has accused Thaksin of betrayal and threatened to reveal further sensitive information about the Shinawatras. 'I never imagined someone so close could act this way,' Thaksin said later, declaring their friendship over. Some analysts say Hun Sen may be trying to whip up nationalism domestically to increase support for his son, Hun Manet. Others suggest Hun Sen has been angered by Thailand's efforts to crack down on so-called 'scam compounds' where trafficked workers are held and forced to target people around the world with online scams. This form of lucrative criminal activity has proliferated in the region over recent years, especially in Cambodia. 'The popular narrative in Thailand is that the two men may have had some kind of personal dealings behind the scenes that did not go according to plan and the fallout has spilled over into the realm of national interest,' said Tita Sanglee, associate fellow with ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. Whatever his motivations, Hun Sen has succeeded in damaging Thaksin's position, exploiting divisions between his family and the military, and creating a power vacuum in Thailand. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Hun Sen, meanwhile, 'holds near absolute control in Cambodia', adds Tita. He has stamped out virtually all opposition voices and independent media. 'When he chooses to take a strong stance, militarily or politically, it has immediate and direct consequences.' On Thursday night, Thaksin said he had thanked countries that had offered to mediate the border dispute, but would like to wait, adding: 'We need to let the Thai military do their job, and first teach this cunning Hun Sen a lesson.' Given Thaksin's weakened position, he may not have a choice but to let the military take the lead. Last week Thailand downgraded it diplomatic relations with Cambodia, recalling its ambassador, and saying it would expel the country's envoy in Bangkok. Thaksin has denied the families' feud was the cause of the clashes. However awkward questions about his friend turned foe are likely to continue. As he visited communities sheltering from the conflict in Ubon Ratchathani, in northeastern Thailand, a woman confronted him: 'You're Hun Sen's friend, aren't you? Is he your friend? Why do you allow Cambodia to shoot Thai people?' Solving territorial disagreements is difficult in any context, said Pavin Chachavalpongpun, professor at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Kyoto University. 'No country would like to sacrifice any inch of sovereignty,' he said. But the personal conflict between Hun Sen and Thaksin has, he added, made their countries' dispute even more unpredictable. This article was amended on 27 July 2025. An earlier version said Hun Sen ruled Cambodia until 2003; however, his rule ended in 2023.
