IRIA News

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Thailand has suspended the U.S.-brokered peace agreement with neighboring Cambodia following a landmine explosion that injured two Thai soldiers near the border, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced on November 10, 2025.

Anutin said the truce would remain on hold until Thailand’s unspecified demands are met. “The hostility towards our national security has not decreased as we thought it would,” he said, without elaborating on what those demands were.

The explosion occurred in Thailand’s Sisaket province while soldiers were on patrol, according to the Thai army. One of the soldiers reportedly lost his foot during the landmine explosion. Anutin said he plans to visit the injured troops on Tuesday. There has been no immediate response from the Cambodian government.

Ceasefire Under Strain

The two countries signed a ceasefire in October this year on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia after five days of deadly border clashes in July that killed at least 43 people and displaced more than 300,000 civilians.

The truce, witnessed and brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed to de-escalate tensions along the disputed frontier and initiate mutual disarmament.

Under the terms of the agreement, Thailand was due to release 18 Cambodian soldiers, and both sides were to begin removing heavy weapons and landmines from the border region.

Thai Defense Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit said the government would now postpone the release of the Cambodian soldiers, which had been scheduled for this week. He added that an investigation was underway to determine whether the mine that injured Thai troops was newly planted.

Thailand has accused Cambodia of laying new mines in violation of the ceasefire, a claim Phnom Penh has repeatedly denied. Cambodian officials have instead called for Thailand to uphold the deal and release the detained soldiers as a gesture of goodwill.

Tensions Along the Border

The border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia stretches back more than a century to when the boundary was first drawn during the French colonial period in Cambodia. Disagreements over sovereignty have repeatedly led to military confrontations, particularly around the ancient Preah Vihear Temple area.

This year’s clashes reignited in July, leading to hundreds of casualties and a humanitarian crisis along the frontier. After the fighting subsided, Malaysia mediated talks that resulted in the October ceasefire, officially called the Joint Declaration by the Prime Ministers of Thailand and Cambodia on the Outcomes of Their Meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

Despite the signing, both sides have since traded accusations of ceasefire violations, particularly regarding the placement and removal of landmines. Similar explosions have occurred both before and after the agreement, heightening mistrust between the two militaries.

Thai Government Stance

Speaking at the Royal Thai Police headquarters on Monday, Anutin stated that he had instructed the defense and foreign ministries to act strictly in line with Thailand’s national interests. “What has been pursued must now be put on hold until clarity is restored,” he said.

Government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat described the incident as a “setback to efforts aimed at reducing tensions,” confirming that all planned actions under the peace framework are suspended until further notice. Thailand’s “sole objective,” he added, is to restore normalcy along the border as soon as possible.

Broader implications

The U.S.-brokered truce was one of several agreements that President Trump has touted as examples of successful conflict mediation during his second term. However, critics say the accords often prioritize quick resolutions over addressing underlying territorial and political disputes.

The pause in implementation could undermine fragile trust between Bangkok and Phnom Penh, risking a return to conflict if dialogue fails to resume soon. While both sides appear committed to avoiding renewed clashes, the absence of clear mechanisms to resolve deep-rooted border claims continues to pose a major challenge to lasting peace in the region.