Thailand and Cambodia Agree Ceasefire, Bringing Temporary Halt to Deadly Border Clashes
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an immediate ceasefire after weeks of intense and deadly clashes along their disputed border, raising hopes for a reduction in violence and a stabilisation of tensions that have shaken the region. The announcement, issued jointly on Saturday, 27 December 2025, marks a significant stride toward curbing one of Southeast Asia’s most persistent frontier conflicts.
The ceasefire declared effective at noon local time commits both nations to halt offensive operations, maintain current troop positions, and refrain from further deployments that could inflame hostilities. Defence ministers from Bangkok and Phnom Penh signed the agreement following intensified negotiations aimed at ending the most severe outbreak of fighting in months.
The recent clashes, which began in early December after the breakdown of a previous truce, have left at least 100 people dead and forced more than half a million civilians from their homes on both sides of the frontier. The violence involved heavy artillery exchanges, ground engagements, and air strikes in border provinces such as Sa Kaeo in Thailand and Banteay Meanchey in Cambodia.
In the joint statement, both governments emphasised the need to allow displaced civilians to return safely to their homes and reduce the human cost of the conflict. The agreement also includes provisions for the possible repatriation of captured soldiers and reaffirmed commitments not to escalate militarily, although details on monitoring mechanisms remain sparse.
The conflict traces back to long-standing territorial disputes rooted in colonial-era demarcations and has periodically flared despite multiple diplomatic efforts. A truce brokered earlier in the year under the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord collapsed in early December, leading to renewed exchanges of fire and an escalation of tensions that drew international concern from ASEAN members and global powers alike.
While the ceasefire signals a crucial step toward de-escalation, analysts caution that sustainable peace will require robust mechanisms for compliance, clear verification procedures, and continued diplomatic engagement. Observers point to the fragile nature of past truces and the need for structured dialogue through the General Border Committee and ASEAN frameworks to address the underlying causes of the conflict.
As both nations begin to implement the terms of the ceasefire, attention will turn to whether the halt in hostilities can hold and whether affected communities can rebuild after weeks of disruption. The coming days are likely to test the durability of the agreement as regional and international stakeholders watch closely for signs of lasting peace.
The ceasefire declared effective at noon local time commits both nations to halt offensive operations, maintain current troop positions, and refrain from further deployments that could inflame hostilities. Defence ministers from Bangkok and Phnom Penh signed the agreement following intensified negotiations aimed at ending the most severe outbreak of fighting in months.
The recent clashes, which began in early December after the breakdown of a previous truce, have left at least 100 people dead and forced more than half a million civilians from their homes on both sides of the frontier. The violence involved heavy artillery exchanges, ground engagements, and air strikes in border provinces such as Sa Kaeo in Thailand and Banteay Meanchey in Cambodia.
In the joint statement, both governments emphasised the need to allow displaced civilians to return safely to their homes and reduce the human cost of the conflict. The agreement also includes provisions for the possible repatriation of captured soldiers and reaffirmed commitments not to escalate militarily, although details on monitoring mechanisms remain sparse.
The conflict traces back to long-standing territorial disputes rooted in colonial-era demarcations and has periodically flared despite multiple diplomatic efforts. A truce brokered earlier in the year under the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord collapsed in early December, leading to renewed exchanges of fire and an escalation of tensions that drew international concern from ASEAN members and global powers alike.
While the ceasefire signals a crucial step toward de-escalation, analysts caution that sustainable peace will require robust mechanisms for compliance, clear verification procedures, and continued diplomatic engagement. Observers point to the fragile nature of past truces and the need for structured dialogue through the General Border Committee and ASEAN frameworks to address the underlying causes of the conflict.
As both nations begin to implement the terms of the ceasefire, attention will turn to whether the halt in hostilities can hold and whether affected communities can rebuild after weeks of disruption. The coming days are likely to test the durability of the agreement as regional and international stakeholders watch closely for signs of lasting peace.
