Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an immediate ceasefire on Saturday, bringing a halt to weeks of intense border clashes that have killed at least 41 people and displaced nearly one million civilians, according to a joint statement issued by the defence ministers of both countries.
The ceasefire took effect at noon local time (05:00 GMT). Under the agreement, both sides will freeze all troop movements and allow civilians living in border areas to return to their homes. The statement added that if the truce holds for 72 hours, Thailand will release 18 Cambodian soldiers currently in its custody.
The breakthrough followed several days of negotiations between Thai and Cambodian officials aimed at ending renewed fighting along their disputed border. The joint statement outlined a framework for “de-escalation”, including a commitment to cease attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure and military targets on either side.
“Both sides must avoid unprovoked firing or advancement or movement of troops towards the other side’s positions or troops,” the statement said.
The release of the detained Cambodian soldiers will take place “in the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration”, a ceasefire agreement signed by both countries in October during a ceremony attended by US President Donald Trump. That agreement, however, collapsed earlier this month after fresh clashes erupted, with both sides accusing each other of violating the truce.
The Thai army said its troops had responded to Cambodian fire in Thailand’s Si Sa Ket province, where two Thai soldiers were injured. Cambodia’s defence ministry rejected that account, saying Thai forces had initiated the attack in Preah Vihear province and insisting that Cambodian troops did not retaliate.
Fighting continued throughout December. On Friday, Thailand carried out air strikes in a disputed border area inside Cambodia. The Thai Air Force said it targeted a Cambodian “fortified military position” after civilians had evacuated the area. Cambodia’s defence ministry condemned the strikes, describing them as “indiscriminate attacks” on civilian homes.
Almost one million people have been displaced since hostilities resumed earlier this month, according to officials.
Border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia date back more than a century, but tensions escalated sharply in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash. In July, five days of heavy fighting along the border left dozens of soldiers and civilians dead and forced thousands more residents to flee their homes.
Following mediation efforts by Malaysia and the United States, a fragile ceasefire was negotiated in late October. US President Donald Trump hailed the deal as the “Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords”. The agreement required both sides to withdraw heavy weapons from the disputed region and establish an interim observer team to monitor compliance.
However, Thailand suspended the agreement in November, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stating that the security threat along the border had “not actually decreased”, setting the stage for the latest round of violence.