KL PEACE ACCORD: PAVING THE WAY FOR ASEAN STABILITY, ECONOMIC RECONNECTION -- ANALYST

By Zufazlin Baharuddin

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- The success of the KL Peace Accord between Cambodia and Thailand marked a significant step for regional security and economic reconnection in Southeast Asia.

Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia analyst Izzah Khairina Ibrahim said the peace accord is an encouraging sign that the dispute settlement mechanisms built on ASEAN’s norms and practices are still possible.

“The immediate impact of ceased hostilities, promises for military de-escalation and an ASEAN observer team are promising signs for more thorough follow-through; however, its long-term impact remains to be seen.

“This is a reminder that the will to pursue and implement the agreement in good faith is vital to rebuilding trust and normalising relationships,” she told Bernama.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed the peace agreement on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit on Oct 26, witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister  Anwar Ibrahim and United States (US) President Donald Trump.

Under the peace deal, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to cease all hostilities and work to build good, neighbourly relationships with each other.

Izzah Khairina emphasised that ASEAN members need to be proactive in engaging in dialogue with each other to provide further assurance and build trust, especially among the newer generation of leaders.

Beyond security, she noted that the peace accord could have positive economic effects, particularly on border trade between the two countries.

“The prolonged closure highlighted the importance of land-based trade for continental Southeast Asia, as it affected exports and disrupted their respective supply chains.

“It also shows how economic incentives can be leveraged for cooperation. The US’ trade deal with Cambodia and the critical minerals agreement with Thailand were premised on the assumption that the two countries would remain peaceful.

“This also exemplifies the increasing difficulties of separating trade and geopolitics nowadays and the importance of diversifying partners to avoid further disruptions,” she said.

Cambodia and Thailand have been squabbling over unmarked borders stretching 817 kilometres for decades, and the quarrel exploded into an armed conflict on July 24, resulting in about 300,000 people being displaced on both sides of the border.

-- BERNAMA