Thailand and Cambodia Agree to 72-Hour Ceasefire Following Weeks of Intense Border Conflict

Defense ministers from Thailand and Cambodia formalized an immediate cessation of all hostilities along their roughly 800-kilometer shared border on Saturday, December 27, 2025. This critical agreement was officially cemented during a signing ceremony held at the border crossing situated between Cambodia's Pailin province and Thailand's Chanthaburi province.

The joint declaration, executed by Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh and his Thai counterpart, Natthaphol Nakpanit, took effect precisely at 12:00 local time. This mandate covers the entire spectrum of military engagement. The document strictly requires an immediate halt to the use of all weaponry, including a comprehensive ban on attacks targeting civilian infrastructure, properties, and non-combatants on both sides of the frontier. Furthermore, the nations committed to freezing any troop movements or patrols, thereby maintaining the current disposition of forces.

The recent escalation, which reignited on December 7, 2025, represented the most severe military flare-up in recent memory. This conflict is rooted in a long-standing territorial dispute stemming from colonial-era maps and treaties, particularly concerning areas around the ancient temples of Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom. During the fighting, which proved to be the costliest in years, a minimum of 101 individuals lost their lives, including civilians. Over half a million residents on both sides of the border were displaced from their homes.

Specific casualty figures reveal the gravity of the situation. The Thai side reported 26 military fatalities and 44 civilian casualties. Conversely, Cambodia documented 30 military deaths and 90 injuries among its civilian population. These figures underscore the devastating human toll exacted by the renewed clashes.

A pivotal condition for securing any lasting stability involves the release of 18 Cambodian military personnel who were detained following incidents that occurred in July. Their handover is contingent upon the ceasefire regime being flawlessly observed for a full 72-hour period. Oversight for adherence to these terms has been entrusted to an observation mission from the regional bloc, ASEAN. ASEAN had previously convened a special meeting of foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur on December 22 to address the crisis. The new accord also stipulates a recommitment to official efforts aimed at demarcating the disputed border sections.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Chanvirakul, who assumed office in September 2025, viewed the diplomatic maneuvering leading to this joint statement as a success. However, past attempts at reconciliation have proven fleeting. Notably, an agreement brokered in July with the mediation of then-US President Donald Trump did not hold, highlighting the inherent fragility of the current truce. The Thai military leadership, represented by General Natthaphol Nakpanit, remains on high alert, cautioning that they are prepared to retaliate should Cambodia fail to uphold the established conditions.