Cambodia: Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an immediate ceasefire, their defence ministers said in a joint statement, bringing a halt to weeks of intense fighting along their disputed border that has killed at least 41 people and displaced nearly one million civilians.
The ceasefire took effect at noon local time (05:00 GMT). Under the agreement, both sides will halt all troop movements and permit civilians residing in border areas to return home. The statement added that once the truce holds for 72 hours, Thailand will release 18 Cambodian soldiers currently in its custody.
The breakthrough followed several days of talks between Thai and Cambodian officials aimed at ending renewed hostilities that erupted earlier this month. According to the joint statement, the de-escalation measures include an immediate halt to attacks on civilians, civilian objects and infrastructure, and military objectives of either side. It also stressed that both countries must avoid unprovoked firing or advancement or movement of troops towards the other side’s positions.
The statement noted that the release of the detained Cambodian soldiers would be carried out in the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration, an agreement signed in October at a ceremony attended by US President Donald Trump. That earlier ceasefire collapsed this month after fresh clashes broke out, with both sides blaming each other for violating the truce.
Thailand’s army said its forces responded to Cambodian fire in Si Sa Ket province, where two Thai soldiers were injured. Cambodia’s defence ministry rejected the claim, saying Thai troops had attacked first in Preah Vihear province and insisting Cambodian forces did not retaliate.
Fighting continued throughout December, including Thai air strikes against a disputed border area inside Cambodia. The Thai Air Force said it targeted a fortified military position after civilians had evacuated the area, while Cambodia’s defence ministry described the strikes as indiscriminate attacks on civilian homes.
Border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia date back more than a century, but escalated sharply in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash. In July, five days of heavy fighting left dozens of soldiers and civilians dead and forced thousands more to flee their homes.
Following mediation efforts by Malaysia and US President Donald Trump, a fragile ceasefire was reached in late October. Dubbed the ‘Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords’ by Trump, the deal called for the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the disputed region and the deployment of an interim observer team.
However, Thailand paused its participation in the agreement in November, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul saying the security situation on the ground had not actually decreased. The latest ceasefire now offers renewed hope for stability along one of Southeast Asia’s most sensitive borders.
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