The Malaysian Prime Minister acknowledged the need to postpone the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting due to the escalating conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. Both sides requested the delay out of concern that the dispute might escalate further.
On 16 December 2025 GMT+7, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the special ASEAN foreign ministers meeting originally scheduled for this Tuesday must be postponed due to the worsening conflict along the Thailand-Cambodia border, which carries a risk of spiraling out of control.
Anwar stated that the meeting aimed to gather ASEAN member states' views to resolve the border crisis. However, both Thailand and Cambodia requested a temporary postponement. He noted that coordination among all parties continues steadily and that the meeting was delayed slightly to address several details. He emphasized calls for both sides to cease fighting, which remains very challenging. The Malaysian Prime Minister also revealed daily contact with both countries. Anwar stressed that negotiations are ongoing and that all parties are working to find a solution to prevent the conflict from escalating.
Source: Phnom Penh Post