Thailand and Cambodia have reached a ceasefire agreement aimed at putting an end to the military conflict that has plagued their shared border for weeks. The agreement was signed on Saturday during the 3rd special meeting of the General Boundary Committee (GBC) by Thailand’s Defence Minister General Natthaphon Narkphanit and Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Tea Seiha. This joint effort reaffirms a previous ceasefire established in July and includes a comprehensive plan with 16 measures designed to de-escalate tensions in the region.
Key provisions of the agreement include an immediate halt to all hostilities effective from noon on December 27, 2025. Additionally, in line with a framework established in October 2023, Thailand will return 18 Cambodian soldiers within 72 hours of the ceasefire being sustained. The agreement also imposes restrictions on troop movements, calls for both parties to refrain from provocative actions, and promotes joint humanitarian efforts, particularly in demining operations.
The ceasefire has garnered international support, with Anwar Ibrahim, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), expressing approval. He stated, “The decision to halt fighting and to hold forces in place reflects a shared recognition that restraint is required, above all in the interest of civilians.”
The ongoing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has its roots in colonial-era treaties, particularly the Franco-Siamese treaties of 1907, which ambiguously defined the boundaries between Thailand and what was then French Indochina. A significant point of contention is the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, which the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in favor of Cambodian ownership in 2013, a decision that was reaffirmed in subsequent rulings. Although Thailand officially recognizes Cambodia’s ownership of this and other ancient Khmer temples, nationalistic sentiments among some segments of the Thai population continue to fuel tensions.
The recent conflict escalated following a landmine incident in November 2023 that injured two Thai soldiers, prompting a ceasefire brokered by the US and Malaysia. The increase in hostilities resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with reports indicating that at least 40 civilians were either killed or wounded, while approximately 800,000 people were forced to flee their homes.
In response to the escalating situation, a Chair’s Statement was issued at the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on December 22, 2023, urging an immediate end to hostilities and a return to diplomatic negotiations, supported by the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT). The newly established ceasefire agreement represents a critical step towards stabilizing the region and addressing the humanitarian needs arising from the conflict.
As both nations work toward implementing the terms of this ceasefire, the eyes of the international community will be on them to ensure that peace is sustained and that the well-being of civilians remains a priority.
