Thailand and Cambodia signed a conditional ceasefire agreement on December 27, 2025, ending more than 20 days of intense border clashes that marked the worst fighting in years between the two Southeast Asian neighbors. The deal, finalized by Thai Defense Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit and Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha during a General Border Committee meeting at a border checkpoint in Thailand's Chanthaburi Province, took effect at noon local time. It commits both sides to freeze current troop positions, halt all reinforcements, refrain from attacks or provocations, and avoid violations of airspace for military purposes, with a 72-hour monitoring period to verify compliance.

The recent escalation, which reignited in early December after the collapse of an earlier truce brokered in July (with involvement from U.S. President Donald Trump and Malaysia), involved fighter-jet sorties, rocket fire, artillery barrages, and ground skirmishes along the long-disputed 817-kilometer border. Rooted in colonial-era maps and treaties, the tensions have historically centered on undemarcated areas, including around the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962 and reaffirmed in 2013. The latest clashes resulted in at least 101 deaths, numerous injuries, and the displacement of over half a million civilians on both sides, prompting evacuations and significant humanitarian concerns.

Thai Defense Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit described the ceasefire as a deliberate strategic test of Cambodia's sincerity rather than a concession or retreat. Speaking on December 28, he emphasized that the agreement aims to verify whether Cambodia can genuinely halt armed activities and threats, with Thailand reserving the right to self-defense in case of violations—governed strictly by necessity and proportionality. He stressed that the truce is based on verification, not blind trust. As part of the deal, Thailand agreed to repatriate 18 Cambodian soldiers captured during earlier July clashes once the 72-hour period passes without breaches. The ceasefire will be monitored by an ASEAN observer team alongside direct bilateral coordination.

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China has stepped in as a key mediator, with foreign ministers from both nations scheduled to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Yunnan province following the agreement. China's foreign ministry expressed commitment to supporting consolidation of the truce, resumption of exchanges, and rebuilding of trust to maintain regional peace. The U.S., through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, welcomed the development and urged full adherence to prior accords like the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords. Nationalist sentiments on both sides have fueled the conflict, providing political benefits to governments amid domestic pressures, including Thailand's upcoming February elections.

The fragile peace holds significant implications for stability in Southeast Asia, where periodic border flare-ups have disrupted lives and economies. While initial reports indicate the truce is holding, with no immediate gunfire reported, skepticism remains among civilians eager to return home. Both nations have expressed intent to clear landmines and pursue longer-term de-escalation, though the deep historical disputes suggest sustained diplomatic efforts will be required.

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