Thailand, Cambodia sign ceasefire agreement; to freeze troop positions, allow affected civilians to return home
Cambodia’s defence ministry confirmed the ceasefire, while a joint statement said both sides agreed to “maintain current troop deployments without further movement” and to allow civilians living in affected border areas to return to their homes.
The joint statement also said Thailand would return 18 Cambodian soldiers if the ceasefire is maintained for 72 hours.
The agreement comes after weeks of renewed clashes that have heightened regional concern and drawn international diplomatic engagement.
What the ceasefire covers
Under the terms outlined in the joint statement reported by Reuters, the immediate focus is on preventing further escalation by freezing military positions and easing the humanitarian impact of the fighting.
The commitment to allow civilians to return is aimed at reversing mass displacement caused by recent violence, while the conditional return of detained soldiers is intended to test the durability of the truce.
Neither side has publicly detailed monitoring mechanisms or timelines beyond the initial 72-hour confidence period.The ceasefire follows a sharp escalation in a decades-old border dispute rooted in colonial-era demarcation and competing claims over territory surrounding ancient temple sites. Renewed fighting this month killed more than 40 people and displaced close to one million civilians, according to official counts cited by AFP.
Violence intensified on December 8–9 after a July ceasefire collapsed. Thailand carried out air and artillery strikes, while Cambodia responded with rocket fire. The clashes continued even as peace talks were under way, with Phnom Penh accusing Bangkok of launching fresh air strikes during negotiations and Thailand defending its military actions as necessary for security.
Where the clashes are taking place
The fighting has been reported along disputed stretches of the Thailand–Cambodia border, particularly near the Dangrek mountain range spanning northeast Thailand and northern Cambodia. Several ancient Khmer temples lie close to the frontier, and surrounding high ground has long been contested.
These areas have seen troop deployments, artillery exchanges and air operations during the latest phase of the conflict.
The dispute dates back to the early 20th century, when borders were drawn during French colonial rule in Cambodia. Thailand has long argued that some colonial-era maps inaccurately marked the boundary.
A major flashpoint is the Preah Vihear temple. In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled that the temple belongs to Cambodia, but the decision did not clearly define surrounding land. A 2013 clarification reaffirmed Cambodia’s sovereignty over areas immediately around the temple, without fully resolving broader border claims.
Diplomacy, symbolism and international pressure
Tensions have been further inflamed by symbolic and political flashpoints. Thailand defended the demolition of a Lord Vishnu statue in the disputed An Ses area of Preah Vihear province as a security measure, while Cambodia said the site lies on its territory. Videos verified by AFP showed the statue—built in 2014 and located roughly 100 metres from the frontier—being removed with heavy machinery, prompting criticism from regional governments amid ongoing clashes.
The violence has drawn international attention. The United States has backed diplomatic efforts to restore calm, while ASEAN members have urged both sides to return to talks. US President Donald Trump said he had spoken to leaders in Bangkok and Phnom Penh during the December escalation, claiming they had agreed to halt fighting, though clashes were later reported.
Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said military operations would continue until threats to Thai territory and civilians cease, accusing Cambodian forces of violating earlier commitments. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has reiterated Phnom Penh’s support for a ceasefire and dialogue, while accusing Thailand of escalating military action.
