Ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia: Hope for peace!

Ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia: Hope for peace!

Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an immediate ceasefire on December 27, 2025 to end weeks of border fighting. The defense ministers of both countries, Natthaphon Narkphanit of Thailand and Tea Seiha of Cambodia, signed an agreement at the Ban Pakkad border checkpoint that separates Pailin and Chanthaburi provinces. This agreement stipulates that all weapons and attacks on civilians and military targets may no longer take place. “[Tagesschau] reports that” the meeting was accompanied by preparatory discussions in a joint committee on border issues.

The ceasefire, which will be monitored by an ASEAN observer team, will initially last for 72 hours. It is expected that civilians who were evacuated in recent weeks will be able to return home once the situation has stabilized. The release of 18 Cambodian soldiers was also promised as soon as the terms of the ceasefire were met. In the agreement, both sides agreed to maintain their current troop levels in the disputed area and not to station any additional units.

A step towards de-escalation

Thailand's defense minister called the agreement a "gateway to a peaceful resolution" of the border dispute that has simmered between Thailand and Cambodia for over a century. In recent weeks, fighting has left at least 101 people dead and displaced more than half a million. “[DW] mentions that” the situation escalated on December 7 and that the roots of the conflict can be found in a border incident in November and a previously failed ceasefire in July. Heavy fighting also resulted in the use of fighter jets from both sides.

To further calm the situation, a direct hotline will be set up between the defense ministers and the military commanders. In addition, talks between Foreign Ministers Prak Sokhonn and Sihasak Phuangketkeow in China's Yunnan Province are scheduled for next week. A spokesman for the Thai Ministry of Defense confirmed that the ceasefire lasted two hours after it came into force and that there would be further military negotiations.

Regional relevance

In a larger context, China's role in calming the conflict cannot be overlooked. The talks took place in Putrajaya, Malaysia, among other places, and were attended by representatives of both the USA and China. “[SRF] makes it clear that” the agreement is seen as an important step towards restoring peace and security in the region. Thailand is also planning a parliamentary election on February 8th, which could potentially have an impact on the country's domestic and foreign policy.

In response to the violent clashes, over 400,000 Cambodian migrant workers have already left Thailand because they feel uncomfortable in the unsafe situation. In addition, Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has canceled official celebrations for his 73rd birthday, providing a further indication of the severity of the current situation. The attentive reader will be curious to see how the situation will develop in the coming days.