Washington, D.C., February 20 (AseanAll) — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on February 20, 2026 called on Thailand to allow displaced residents to return to their homes and to resolve border tensions through existing bilateral mechanisms agreed by both countries.
“We urge Thailand to allow our people to return home and to resume the demarcation process with Cambodia through the joint mechanisms to which we have mutually agreed,” Hun Manet said in an interview with Fox News in Washington, D.C., where he attended the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace at the United States Institute of Peace.
The prime minister said that although fighting had ceased, Thai troops remained inside what Cambodia considers its territory, reinforcing positions with shipping containers and barbed wire.
“Thailand’s occupation extends beyond its unilateral claim, and this area belongs to a Cambodian villages. As a result, many villagers are unable to return,” he said.
Hun Manet added that such actions contravene a joint statement between the two royal governments permitting civilians to return following the ceasefire. He said the understanding stipulated that forces would hold their existing positions without advancing beyond areas under their control.
“The extension of barbed wire and the use of containers to block off villages goes beyond that agreement,” he said.
Reaffirming Cambodia’s stance, Samdech Hun Manet said Phnom Penh remains committed to peaceful resolution and dialogue.
“Cambodia does not believe that using war to end war is sustainable or practical,” he said.
Hun Manet called on Thailand to adhere to prior agreements, including the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord, which he said was witnessed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The accord set out clear conditions for addressing the root cause of the dispute, which he described as a territorial conflict.
Hun Manet also expressed gratitude to Trump for his role in facilitating the first ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, as well as in supporting the Kuala Lumpur Accord, which included participation by the 2025 ASEAN Chair, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
“I believe President Trump has a strong personal commitment to peace and stability,” Hun Manet said. “In our discussions, he has emphasized that protecting lives is paramount and that ending conflict is a priority.”
