Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to halt weeks of intense border clashes, ending the worst fighting between the two countries in years. The ceasefire will take effect at noon (0500 GMT) and aims to restore peace along disputed border areas.
The agreement was signed by Thai Defence Minister Natthaphon Nakrphanit and Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Seiha. Both sides pledged to maintain current troop deployments without further movement. Officials warned that any reinforcement could escalate tensions and harm long-term resolution efforts.
The clashes lasted 20 days, killing at least 101 people and displacing over half a million residents on both sides. Fighting reignited in early December after a previous ceasefire, brokered with the help of US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, collapsed.
Thailand and Cambodia have contested sovereignty along parts of their 817km (508 miles) shared border for more than a century. Skirmishes occasionally break out in areas where the border remains undemarcated, often involving artillery, rockets, and even fighter jets.
Under the ceasefire agreement, displaced people will be allowed to return safely, and neither side will use force against civilians. Thailand has also agreed to release 18 Cambodian soldiers held since July clashes if the ceasefire is maintained for 72 hours.
An observer team from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will monitor the agreement, coordinating with both countries to ensure compliance. Direct communication between defence ministers and armed forces chiefs will also continue to prevent misunderstandings.
Air Chief Marshal Prapas Sornjaidee of Thailand stressed that the people of Thailand and Cambodia are not in conflict, noting that the clashes were political and territorial rather than popular disputes. The ceasefire is considered a crucial step toward long-term peace, stability, and cooperation in the region.
In other related news also read Thailand Cambodia Ceasefire Took Place Unconditionally
Thailand’s involvement in implementing and monitoring the ceasefire demonstrates its commitment to regional security, diplomacy, and rebuilding trust with Cambodia after weeks of violence.
