Thailand and Cambodia have formally agreed to an immediate ceasefire, effective from Saturday, 27 December 2025, at 12:00 p.m. local time, to halt the most intense series of armed clashes along their shared border in several years.
“Both sides agree to an immediate ceasefire after the time of signature of this Joint Statement with effect from 12:00 hours noon (local time) on 27 December 2025, involving all types of weapons, including attacks on civilians, civilian objects and infrastructures, and military objectives of either side, in all cases and all areas,” the joint statement said.
The agreement was signed by Thai Defence Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit and Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Seiha at a border checkpoint, following three days of intensive negotiations between senior military officials from both sides.
The deal brings to an end 20 days of fighting that left hundreds dead and triggered mass cross-border displacement. It marks the second de-escalation effort within six months, after a previous agreement collapsed in early December 2025.
Terms of the Agreement and Monitoring Mechanisms
Under the 27 December 2025 agreement, both countries agreed to freeze all troop movements, halt the use of all types of weapons, and refrain from violating each other’s airspace for military purposes.
ASEAN will deploy a monitoring team to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire, supported by direct communication mechanisms at the level of defence ministers and military commanders.
“Both sides agree to maintain current troop deployments without further movement,” another section of the joint statement said.
Thailand also announced it would repatriate 18 Cambodian soldiers detained since the July 2025 clashes, on the condition that the ceasefire is fully maintained for 72 hours.
The agreement further includes the return of displaced civilians, cooperation on landmine clearance, and joint efforts to combat cross-border crime, including online fraud.
Both sides also agreed to refrain from spreading disinformation and to avoid provocative actions. Nevertheless, Thai military officials stressed that they remain prepared to respond should any violations of the ceasefire terms occur.
Clashes Since July and Renewed Fighting in December
The latest conflict traces back to five days of clashes in July 2025 that killed at least 48 people and forced around 300,000 residents to flee their homes. The ceasefire reached at the time was mediated by Malaysia and supported by pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, before being formally закрепed in a peace agreement in October 2025.
However, the agreement collapsed in early December 2025 after both sides accused each other of violations, triggering a new round of military escalation. Fighting resumed on 7 December, spreading from forested areas near Laos to coastal regions along the Gulf of Thailand.
During the escalation, Thailand deployed fighter jets to strike targets in Cambodian territory, while Cambodia retaliated with cross-border rocket fire.
Thailand reported the deaths of 26 soldiers and one civilian, along with dozens of civilians killed indirectly by the conflict. Cambodia, meanwhile, said 30 civilians were killed and 90 wounded, though it has not released official figures for military casualties.
Previous diplomatic efforts failed to contain the fighting. Neither Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in his capacity as ASEAN Chair, nor President Trump succeeded in restoring the ceasefire before the conflict widened.
A breakthrough was achieved only after a special meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur, followed by three days of direct negotiations along the border.
A Century-Old Dispute Still Looms
The ceasefire agreement does not address the core territorial dispute between the two countries. Thailand and Cambodia have been at odds for more than a century over multiple points along their roughly 800-kilometre land border, disputes rooted in colonial-era maps and treaties.
The contested areas range from remote regions to historically significant sites and have repeatedly sparked armed clashes. Historical rivalry and rising nationalist sentiment in both countries continue to heighten the risk of escalation whenever tensions flare.
“War and clashes don't make the two countries or the two people happy,” said Royal Thai Air Force Chief of Staff Air Chief Marshal Prapas Sornjaidee.
While the 27 December 2025 ceasefire opens space for short-term stability, the Thailand–Cambodia border conflict continues to carry the risk of renewed tensions as long as the underlying disputes remain unresolved.
