Thailand Cambodia have agreed to an immediate ceasefire after nearly three weeks of deadly clashes along their disputed border. The defence ministers of both countries confirmed the decision in a joint statement on Saturday.
The agreement freezes current front lines and allows civilians living near the border to return home. The fighting had killed dozens of people and forced close to one million civilians to flee their homes. The ceasefire came into effect at noon local time on Saturday. The statement also said that after 72 hours of calm, Thailand will release 18 Cambodian soldiers who have been held since July.
The breakthrough followed days of talks between the two sides, with diplomatic encouragement from China and the United States. Along with civilian returns, the deal also includes plans to remove landmines from affected areas.
Thailand’s Defence Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit said the ceasefire would test Cambodia’s intentions. He warned that Thailand would still defend itself under international law if the agreement is broken.
Thailand had earlier resisted another ceasefire, arguing that the previous one had not been properly enforced. Thai officials were also unhappy with what they saw as Cambodia’s attempt to internationalise the conflict. Unlike the earlier truce in July, US President Donald Trump did not play a visible role this time, though the US State Department was involved.
The last ceasefire collapsed earlier this month when fresh clashes broke out, with both sides blaming each other. The Thai army said its troops were responding to Cambodian fire in Si Sa Ket province, where two Thai soldiers were injured. Cambodia’s defence ministry countered that Thai forces attacked first in Preah Vihear province and claimed Cambodian troops did not retaliate.
Fighting continued through December, including Thai air strikes inside Cambodia on Friday. Thailand said it targeted a fortified Cambodian military position after civilians had left the area. Cambodia accused Thailand of carrying out indiscriminate attacks on civilian homes.
What is the Thailand Cambodia border dispute about?
The Thailand Cambodia conflict is rooted in history and goes back more than a century, to the time when borders were drawn following the French occupation of Cambodia.
Tensions escalated sharply in 2008 when Cambodia attempted to register an 11th-century temple located in the disputed area as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thailand strongly opposed the move, triggering protests and clashes.
Since then, sporadic fighting has broken out along the border, with both soldiers and civilians killed over the years. Relations worsened again in May this year after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash, pushing ties to their lowest point in more than a decade.
Ahead of the July fighting, both countries imposed restrictions. Cambodia banned imports from Thailand, including fruit, vegetables, electricity supplies, and internet services. Both sides also reinforced troop deployments along the border.
What happened to Trump’s peace deal?
Thailand suspended the agreement in November. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the security threat had “not actually decreased.” Cambodia responded by saying it remained committed to the deal.
After fresh fighting broke out in December, Thailand’s foreign minister told the BBC the ceasefire was “not working” and said responsibility lay with Cambodia. Cambodia’s former prime minister Hun Sen said his country only returned fire in order to respect the ceasefire.
Whether the ceasefire holds now depends largely on political will, as nationalist feelings remain strong in both countries. Cambodia has suffered heavy losses in soldiers and military equipment and has been pushed back from several border positions, along with damage from Thai air strikes.
Get the Latest Updates at inkrisp.com. Also, follow our social media for updates on X and Instagram.