Thailand and Cambodia agree to ceasefire after clashes

Thailand and Cambodia have signed a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending nearly three weeks of intense border clashes that killed more than 100 people and displaced more than half a million civilians. The agreement was signed on Saturday at a border checkpoint in Thailand’s Chanthaburi province by senior defence officials from both countries and came into effect at noon local time on December 27.

The joint statement calls for an immediate halt to all military activity, including the use of heavy weapons, airstrikes and attacks on civilian areas and infrastructure. Both sides also agreed to maintain their current troop deployments, warning that any further movement or reinforcement could escalate tensions and undermine longer-term peace efforts.

The latest fighting erupted in early December after the collapse of a previous ceasefire agreement brokered in October by US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. That truce unravelled following a landmine incident in November that injured several Thai soldiers, reigniting long-standing tensions along the 800-kilometre shared border.

Humanitarian crisis

Clashes quickly escalated between December 7 and 8, with F-16 airstrikes, artillery barrages and rocket fire reported across multiple border provinces. Cambodia reported at least 18 civilian deaths by mid-December, while Thailand confirmed military casualties of at least 21 soldiers. The violence triggered a major humanitarian crisis, forcing nearly 500,000 Cambodians and more than 150,000 Thais to flee their homes and seek refuge in government-run shelters.

Diplomatic pressure intensified in the days leading up to the ceasefire. Talks were held under the General Border Committee framework between December 24 and 26, while ASEAN foreign ministers convened an emergency meeting in Kuala Lumpur, urging both countries to exercise maximum restraint and honour previous peace commitments.

Fragile truce

The dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has deep historical roots, stemming from disagreements over colonial-era border demarcations and competing claims over ancient temple sites, including the Preah Vihear temple. Although the International Court of Justice ruled in Cambodia’s favour in 1962 and again in 2013, tensions have periodically flared into violence.

Thai Defence Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit said the ceasefire would be closely monitored over the next 72 hours, as both sides assess whether the fragile truce can hold after months of escalating hostilities.