Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an “immediate” ceasefire, pledging to end weeks of deadly border clashes that have killed more than 100 people and displaced over half a million residents on both sides of their shared frontier.
In a joint statement, the two Southeast Asian neighbors announced that the ceasefire would take effect on Saturday, December 27, at noon local time and would cover “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 statement, issued by both countries’ defense ministers, emphasized that “both sides agree to maintain current troop deployments without further movement.” Cambodia’s defense ministry added that “any reinforcement would heighten tensions and negatively affect long-term efforts to resolve the situation.”
In addition to halting combat, the two nations agreed to cooperate on demining efforts and combating cybercrime. The agreement was signed by Thailand’s Defense Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit and Cambodia’s counterpart Tea Seiha, ending 20 days of intense fighting that involved fighter jet sorties, rocket exchanges, and artillery barrages.
The clashes, which reignited in early December, follow longstanding territorial disputes along the border. A shaky ceasefire mediated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, supported by U.S. President Donald Trump, had briefly reduced tensions before renewed hostilities erupted.
Despite the ceasefire announcement, Cambodia reported that Thailand conducted an airstrike on Saturday morning, targeting a site in Serei Saophoan in Banteay Meanchey province. Cambodia said Thailand deployed F-16 fighter jets to drop four bombs. On Friday, December 26, a similar airstrike by Thailand dropped 40 bombs on Chok Chey village in the same province, which Thailand’s military confirmed.
Casualties on both sides have been significant. Thailand has lost 26 soldiers and one civilian since December 7, along with 44 civilian deaths from collateral effects of the fighting. Cambodia has not released official figures on military casualties but reported 30 civilian deaths and 90 injuries.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from affected areas in both countries, with the humanitarian situation remaining critical as authorities begin relief and recovery operations.
The ceasefire marks a crucial step toward easing tensions, though analysts warn that underlying territorial disputes could continue to challenge long-term peace along the Thailand-Cambodia border.
Asia Pacific Newslog 