Thailand, Cambodia declare ceasefire after weeks of fighting

Patpicha Tanakasempipat, Randy Thanthong-Knight, Bloomberg News on Dec 27, 2025

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Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an immediate ceasefire for the second time in six months after the latest round of border clashes killed dozens of soldiers and civilians, while displacing more than half a million others.

The neighboring countries signed a pact on Saturday to end the use of all types of weapons as well as attacks on civilians and infrastructure. Thailand will also return 18 Cambodian soldiers after the ceasefire has been “fully maintained” for 72 hours.

“Both sides must avoid unprovoked firing or advancement or movement of troops towards the other side’s positions or troops,” according to the statement. “Both sides agree not to undertake provocative actions that may escalate tensions.”

The agreement includes caveats, with Thai military officials warning their forces are prepared to respond if Cambodia breaches any of the conditions.

The U.S. government welcomed the ceasefire deal, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio issuing a statement urging the two countries to “immediately honor this commitment and fully implement the terms of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords.”

The de-escalation came after fighting erupted on Dec. 7, along their 800-kilometer (500-mile) border. Five days of clashes in July ended with an initial ceasefire agreement mediated by Malaysia and U.S. President Donald Trump.

After the December flare-up, Trump and his administration pushed to bring the two countries back to the agreement, for which the U.S. president claimed credit in ending a previous outbreak of fighting. In October, Trump oversaw the signing of a peace deal, calling it “something that a lot of people said couldn’t be done.”

Thailand later suspended the agreement after several patrolling soldiers were injured in land mine blasts this month. The confrontation — which has simmered for decades — quickly escalated, with Thailand deploying fighter jets for air strikes and Cambodia firing rockets across the border.

This year’s bouts of fighting rank among the deadliest clashes between the two countries. They stem from decades-long disputes over colonial-era maps and treaties that define the rugged border and have periodically erupted into skirmishes. Historic rivalry and rising nationalist sentiment have fueled recent military attacks along the remote, sparsely populated frontier.

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(With assistance from Jon Herskovitz.)