Thailand and Cambodia Agree to Immediate Ceasefire

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to freeze the front line, ending almost three weeks of intense border fighting.

This was reported by the BBC.

Both sides agreed to freeze the front lines at their current positions and allow civilians living in the border areas to return home. Nearly three weeks of intense fighting resulted in dozens of deaths and nearly one million people displaced from their homes in the region.

The ceasefire came into effect at noon local time (05:00 GMT) on Saturday, December 27. After it lasts 72 hours, 18 Cambodian soldiers held by Thailand since July will be released.

The breakthrough was made possible after days of negotiations between the two countries with diplomatic encouragement from China and the United States. The agreement prioritizes the return of displaced persons to their homes and also includes an agreement on mine clearance.

“If the ceasefire is not implemented or is violated, Thailand maintains its legitimate right to self-defense in accordance with international law,” said Thai Defense Minister Nattapong Narkphanit.

Thailand was reluctant to agree to the ceasefire, claiming that the previous one had not been properly implemented. Thailand also resented what it saw as Cambodia’s attempts to internationalize the conflict.

In contrast to the last ceasefire in July, US President Donald Trump was noticeably absent from the process, although the US State Department was involved.

The border dispute has been going on for over a century. The conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, in particular, is related to the territories of border temple complexes and surrounding areas.

In May 2025, a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash, and two months later, in July, five days of intense fighting along the border took place, killing dozens of soldiers and civilians. After the intervention of Malaysia and the US President, a ceasefire was agreed upon and signed between the two countries in late October.

However, two weeks later, Thailand suspended the agreement, the formal reason for which was the explosion of Thai soldiers on a mine near the border.

In early December, tensions rose again due to a shootout at the border. The Thai army said that its troops had responded to Cambodian fire in Thailand’s Sisaket province, resulting in two Thai soldiers being injured. At the same time, the Cambodian Ministry of Defense stated that it was Thai forces that attacked first – in Preah Vihear province – and insisted that Cambodia did not respond.

On December 12, tanks and armored personnel carriers of the Thai army crossed the border and invaded Cambodia, and the Thai military raised the Thai national flag in the Cambodian village of Prey Chan. Since then, intense fighting has continued in the border areas with the use of armored vehicles, aircraft and artillery.