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Thailand and Cambodia brought a halt to weeks of intense fighting along their disputed border on December 27, 2025, after signing a ceasefire, easing one of Southeast Asia’s most serious interstate clashes in years.

The ceasefire took effect at noon local time and immediately imposed a ban on military movements, reinforcements, and the use of airspace for military purposes.

It also set out conditions for the eventual release of Cambodian soldiers held by Thailand and called for renewed efforts to address long-running border disputes and humanitarian concerns.

The agreement was signed at a border checkpoint by Cambodia’s Defense Minister Tea Seiha and Thailand’s Defense Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit, following three days of lower-level military talks.

It reaffirmed earlier ceasefire commitments reached in July and October but introduced clearer timelines and verification measures amid growing international concern over the scale of the fighting.

Fighting, Airstrikes, and Tensions

Despite the agreement, tensions surfaced within hours of its signing. Thailand’s Foreign Ministry lodged a formal protest with Cambodia after a Thai soldier suffered a permanent disability when he stepped on an anti-personnel landmine. Thailand accused Cambodian forces of newly laying the mine, an allegation Cambodia strongly denied.

Thailand has acknowledged carrying out airstrikes during the latest escalation, with Cambodian officials saying Thai aircraft struck targets inside Cambodia as recently as Saturday morning.

The Thai Air Force said it had targeted fortified military positions after civilians had left the area, while Cambodia’s Defense Ministry described the strikes as indiscriminate attacks on civilian houses.

The ceasefire stipulates that once calm has been maintained for 72 hours, Thailand will repatriate 18 Cambodian soldiers it has held since fighting earlier this year. Their release has been a central demand from Phnom Penh and a sensitive political issue domestically.

Thailand, however, has framed the 72-hour window as a test rather than an act of trust. Defense Ministry spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri said the safe return of civilians to border villages would be the key indicator that conditions were stable enough to proceed with the prisoner release.

“However, if the ceasefire does not materialize, this would indicate a lack of sincerity on the Cambodian side to ensure peace,” he said.

“Therefore, the 72-hour ceasefire beginning today is not an act of trust nor unconditional acceptance but a time frame to tangibly prove whether Cambodia can truly cease the use of weapons, provocations, and threats in the area.”

Heavy Civilian Toll and Mass Displacement

Civilians have borne the brunt of the fighting, which intensified sharply in early December. Thai officials said 26 soldiers and one civilian have been killed directly in combat since Dec. 7, with a further 44 civilian deaths reported overall.

Cambodia has not released official military casualty figures but said at least 30 civilians were killed and 90 were injured. Nearly one million people have been forced from their homes on both sides of the border, according to humanitarian estimates, with villages evacuated and schools shut down across contested areas.

“Today’s ceasefire also paves the way for the displaced people who are living in the border areas to be able to return to their homes, work in the fields, and even allow their children to be able to return to schools and resume their studies,” Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha said after the signing.

The agreement calls for civilians to return as soon as conditions permit, with both sides freezing current front lines and allowing humanitarian access.

Landmines, Demining, and Accusations

One of the most contentious issues in the conflict has been the use of landmines. The new agreement commits both sides to international conventions banning their deployment and includes provisions for joint humanitarian demining operations.

Thai officials say their soldiers have been wounded in at least 10 landmine incidents this year by what they describe as newly planted Cambodian devices. Cambodia insists the mines are remnants of decades of civil war that ended in the late 1990s.

Following Saturday’s injury, Thailand’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that the ceasefire “includes key provisions on joint humanitarian demining operations to ensure the safety of military personnel and civilians in the border areas as soon as possible.”

Another clause requires both sides to refrain from spreading false information or disinformation, an acknowledgement of the bitter propaganda war that has accompanied the fighting.

International Reactions and Mediation

The ceasefire was welcomed by several international actors. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the announcement from Cambodia and Thailand on reaching a ceasefire following the General Border Committee meeting.

Rubio posted on X, “We urge both countries to immediately honor this commitment and fully implement the terms of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords.”

The UN’s human rights chief, Volker Turk, said he hoped the ceasefire would “pave the way” for lasting peace, while the European Union called for good faith implementation.

Malaysia has played a central mediating role. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who helped broker the original July ceasefire, said the new agreement “reflects a shared recognition that restraint is required, above all in the interest of civilians.”

Diplomatic encouragement also came from China and the United States, though the dynamics differed from earlier efforts. The July ceasefire was strongly pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump, who publicly threatened to withhold trade privileges unless both countries agreed.

China has welcomed the joint statement by Cambodia and Thailand agreeing to a ceasefire, describing the move as evidence that dialogue and consultation remain a viable and effective means of resolving complex disputes. Beijing said the development reflects the combined efforts of China, ASEAN, and the wider international community in promoting de-escalation and peaceful solutions.

China also expressed its readiness to continue providing platforms and conditions for more comprehensive and in-depth communication between Phnom Penh and Bangkok. Beijing said it would play a constructive role in supporting the consolidation of the ceasefire, the resumption of exchanges, the rebuilding of political trust, and the maintenance of regional peace.

That truce, later dubbed the “Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords,” mandated heavy weapons withdrawals and the establishment of an interim observer team. Trump was notably absent from the latest negotiations, although the U.S. State Department remained involved behind the scenes.

China welcomes the joint statement between Cambodia and Thailand agreeing to a ceasefire. This proves that dialogue and consultation is a viable and effective way to resolve complex disputes. China, ASEAN and the international community have made common efforts to this end.… pic.twitter.com/yfK1LiDm7y

— CHINA MFA Spokesperson 中国外交部发言人 (@MFA_China) December 27, 2025

Why Previous Ceasefires Failed?

Saturday’s agreement follows the collapse of earlier ceasefires that were only partially implemented. After five days of intense fighting in July, a truce brokered by Malaysia and backed by Washington formally took shape in October. Despite that, minor cross-border violence continued, nationalist rhetoric escalated, and key provisions on landmines and prisoners were not fully resolved.

Thailand suspended parts of the October agreement in November after landmine incidents injured Thai soldiers, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul saying the security threat had “not actually decreased.”

Fresh clashes erupted again in early December, with both sides accusing the other of firing first. Thailand said its troops responded to Cambodian fire in Si Sa Ket province, injuring two soldiers, while Cambodia said Thai forces-initiated attacks in Preah Vihear province and claimed it did not retaliate.

Airstrikes carried out by Thailand in recent days marked a significant escalation, deepening Cambodian grievances after it lost territory, soldiers, and military equipment along the border.

Old Dispute with Renewed Nationalism

The roots of the conflict stretch back more than a century to colonial-era border demarcations, particularly around temple complexes and resource-rich areas.

Tensions flared earlier this year after a group of Cambodian women sang patriotic songs at a disputed temple, an incident that inflamed nationalist sentiment.

A Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash in May, followed by the deadly July fighting that displaced thousands and left dozens dead. Since then, nationalism has intensified in both countries, complicating compromise and making political leaders wary of appearing weak.

Analysts say Cambodia’s recent military setbacks and infrastructure damage from airstrikes may harden its stance, while Thailand remains sceptical after repeated ceasefire violations.

Uncertain Path for Peace

While the ceasefire has stopped large-scale fighting for now, its durability remains in question. Much depends on whether both sides restrain their forces, allow civilians to return safely, and make tangible progress on landmine clearance and border demarcation.

Thailand has made clear it retains what it calls its legitimate right to self-defense under international law if the ceasefire is violated. Cambodia, meanwhile, is seeking concrete guarantees that earlier commitments will finally be honored.

For residents of the border regions, the agreement offers a cautious hope of returning home. For the two governments, it is another attempt to manage a deeply rooted dispute that has repeatedly resisted lasting resolution.