Thailand and Cambodia Agree to 72-Hour Ceasefire to End Border Fighting
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire aimed at halting weeks of intensified border clashes, as both sides attempt to ease tensions along their disputed frontier.
Thailand’s Defence Minister, Nattaphon Narkphanit, said the agreement should be seen as a test of sincerity rather than a concession. He stressed that Thailand’s acceptance of what he described as a “conditional ceasefire” is intended to assess whether Cambodia can genuinely stop armed activities and cross-border threats.
Under the terms of the truce, Thailand has also agreed to return 18 Cambodian soldiers currently in its custody, provided the ceasefire holds for the full 72-hour period. Thai officials said the move is meant to build confidence and prevent further escalation.
The latest agreement follows a previous ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, which temporarily ended five days of clashes in July. That truce collapsed earlier this month after several Thai soldiers were injured by landmines near the contested border area, reigniting hostilities and diplomatic tensions.
The Thailand–Cambodia border has long been a source of friction, with periodic flare-ups linked to unresolved territorial claims and military deployments. While both countries have pledged to resolve disputes peacefully, incidents along the frontier have repeatedly tested bilateral relations.
In a parallel diplomatic effort, the foreign ministers of Thailand and Cambodia are reportedly leading delegations to China’s Yunnan province for talks, underscoring Beijing’s growing role as a regional mediator in Southeast Asian security matters.
Officials from both countries said the coming days will be critical in determining whether the ceasefire can be extended or form the basis for a longer-term de-escalation agreement.
