Thailand and Cambodia have formally agreed to a ceasefire, bringing a temporary halt to weeks of intense armed conflict along their shared border. The agreement, which took effect at noon local time on Saturday 27 December 2025, aims to end fighting over disputed territory.
Terms of the Truce
The ceasefire pact, signed by Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Seiha and his Thai counterpart Natthaphon Narkphanit, mandates an immediate end to hostilities. Both nations have agreed to cease all military movements and to refrain from violating each other's airspace for military purposes. This is particularly significant as Thailand had employed airstrikes against sites in Cambodia, with the most recent occurring on Saturday morning just before the truce.
A key provision of the deal is the planned repatriation of 18 Cambodian soldiers held by Thailand since clashes in July. Their release, a major demand from Phnom Penh, is conditional on the ceasefire holding for 72 hours. The agreement also commits both countries to adhere to international bans on deploying landmines, a primary concern for Thailand.
Path to the Agreement and Escalating Violence
The signing took place at a border checkpoint following three days of lower-level military talks under the existing General Border Committee framework. This latest effort follows a failed July ceasefire that was brokered by Malaysia and pushed through under pressure from then-US President Donald Trump, who threatened trade privileges.
Despite that earlier deal being formalised in detail at a regional meeting in October 2025 attended by Mr Trump, tensions persisted. A bitter propaganda war and minor cross-border violence continued, erupting into widespread heavy fighting in early December.
Human Cost and Regional Impact
The conflict has extracted a severe human toll. Thai officials report 26 soldiers and one civilian killed directly since 7 December, with a further 44 civilian deaths from collateral effects. Cambodia has not released official military casualty figures but states that 30 of its civilians have been killed and 90 injured.
The violence prompted the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people from affected areas on both sides of the border. Throughout the clashes, each side blamed the other for instigating the fighting and claimed to be acting in self-defence.
While the ceasefire offers a crucial respite, its long-term stability remains to be tested, given the collapse of the previous July agreement.
