Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to halt weeks of intense border clashes, bringing an end to one of the most serious flare-ups between the two Southeast Asian neighbours in recent years. The fighting, which involved fighter jet operations, rocket exchanges and heavy artillery fire, had continued for nearly three weeks and caused widespread destruction along the border areas.
In a joint statement released on Saturday, the defence ministers of both countries announced that a ceasefire would come into effect at noon local time. They confirmed that both sides had agreed to maintain their current troop positions and refrain from any further movement along the border. The statement emphasised that any additional troop deployment or military reinforcement would only escalate tensions and undermine long-term efforts to restore peace and stability in the region.
The agreement was formally signed by Thailand’s Defence Minister Natthaphon Nakrphanit and Cambodia’s Defence Minister Tea Seiha. The ceasefire brought an end to 20 days of sustained fighting that claimed at least 101 lives and forced more than half a million people on both sides of the border to flee their homes. Entire communities were displaced as residents sought safety from shelling, air strikes and ground combat.
The latest round of violence erupted in early December after a previous ceasefire collapsed. That earlier truce had been brokered with the involvement of former US President Donald Trump following clashes in July. However, the fragile agreement failed to hold, leading to renewed hostilities that quickly escalated into the most serious confrontation between the two countries in years.
Officials from both sides expressed hope that the latest ceasefire would hold and allow space for diplomatic engagement to resolve the underlying disputes. The announcement comes as regional and international observers continue to call for restraint, warning that prolonged instability could have serious humanitarian and security consequences for the region.
