In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, Thailand and Cambodia have announced an immediate cessation of hostilities following weeks of intense border conflicts that resulted in substantial casualties and mass displacement. The agreement was formalized through a joint statement issued by defense ministers Tea Seiha of Cambodia and Natthaphon Narkphanit of Thailand after emergency negotiations at a border checkpoint in Chanthaburi province.
The ceasefire, which took effect at noon local time (05:00 GMT) on Saturday, mandates both nations to freeze all military movements and facilitate the safe return of civilians to border regions. The accord stipulates that if the truce holds for 72 consecutive hours, Thailand will release 18 Cambodian soldiers currently in detention.
The joint declaration outlines specific de-escalation measures, including the cessation of “attacks on civilians, civilian objects and infrastructures, and military objectives of either side.” It explicitly prohibits unprovoked firing or advancement of troops toward opposing positions.
This resolution references the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration, a previous ceasefire agreement brokered in October with involvement from Malaysian mediators and U.S. President Donald Trump. That earlier accord, dubbed the “Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords,” had mandated weapon withdrawals from disputed territories and established monitoring mechanisms before collapsing earlier this month.
The recent conflict escalation began when Thailand reported responding to Cambodian fire in Si Sa Ket province, resulting in two Thai soldiers injured. Cambodia countered that Thai forces initiated aggression in Preah Vihear province. Hostilities intensified throughout December, culminating in Thailand conducting airstrikes on Friday that Cambodia described as “indiscriminate attacks” on civilian areas.
Historical tensions between the Southeast Asian neighbors date back over a century, with notable escalation occurring in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed. July witnessed five days of intense fighting that claimed dozens of lives and displaced thousands before the October ceasefire temporarily halted violence.