New York, July 26, 2025 — The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting late Friday as hostilities between Thailand and Cambodia entered a second day, with both countries exchanging artillery and air strikes amidst their longstanding border dispute.
Cambodia, which requested the meeting, called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Chhea Keo, Cambodia’s UN ambassador, emphasized the need for a peaceful resolution. “We ask for immediate ceasefires and a peaceful solution to the dispute,” Keo told reporters. He questioned Thailand’s claims of Cambodian aggression, highlighting the disparity in military capabilities between the two nations.
Thailand’s UN ambassador left the meeting without commenting, and the Security Council did not issue a formal statement. However, a council diplomat, speaking anonymously, confirmed that all 15 members urged both nations to deescalate tensions and embrace diplomacy. ASEAN, chaired by Malaysia, offered to mediate the conflict.
At the meeting, the Assistant Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Mohamed Khaled Khiari, was expected to brief participants, with both Cambodian and Thai representatives engaging under the Council’s provisional procedures.
The recent conflict marks the most intense escalation in over a decade. Beginning on July 24, the violence has involved gunfire, shelling, and air strikes. Thai authorities reported one soldier and 14 civilian deaths, while Cambodia confirmed at least one fatality and five injuries. Over 130,000 people have been displaced in Thailand due to the conflict.
The Security Council, led by July’s president, Pakistan, urged both sides to exercise maximum restraint. “The call for diplomatic solutions was echoed by all members,” said Keo, hoping for adherence to the Council’s request.
As both countries signal openness to dialogue, international observers emphasize the importance of resolving disputes through established diplomatic channels to prevent further escalation and regional instability.
