Thai and Cambodian Militaries Hold Talks on Resuming Ceasefire

Reuters

Displaced people gather inside a temporary shelter amid clashes between Thailand and Cambodia along a disputed border area, in Buriram province, Thailand, 16 December 2025.

Senior military officials from Thailand and Cambodia began talks on Wednesday aimed at resuming a ceasefire, days after the two neighbours agreed to discuss an end to 16 days of intense border fighting that has left at least 86 people dead.

The talks come two days after a special meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur, convened in an effort to salvage a truce initially brokered by ASEAN chair Malaysia and US President Donald Trump following an earlier round of clashes in July.

Thailand’s Defence Ministry spokesman, Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, said the meeting of the General Border Committee would last three days and could pave the way for a broader agreement.

The talks were held at a border checkpoint near the southern end of the two countries’ 817-kilometre frontier.

“If the secretariat meeting goes smoothly and leads to an agreement, then there will be a meeting between the defence ministers of the two countries on 27 December,” Surasant told reporters.

Cambodian Defence Ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata said the talks began at 4:30pm local time (0930 GMT) and were led by generals from both sides.

The meeting marks the most significant diplomatic step since fighting resumed and follows separate, unsuccessful mediation efforts by Malaysia, China and the United States.

Thailand and Cambodia have accused each other of aggression and of violating an enhanced ceasefire reached in October in Malaysia, in the presence of President Trump. Under that agreement, both sides committed to demining contested areas and withdrawing troops and heavy weapons from territory disputed for decades.

Despite preparations for Wednesday’s talks, clashes have continued in recent weeks. Fighting has occurred at multiple points along the border since early December, stretching from forested regions near Laos to coastal provinces along the Gulf of Thailand.

According to national authorities, at least 21 civilians have been killed in Cambodia and more than half a million people displaced. In Thailand, at least 65 people have died and over 150,000 residents have been evacuated.

A spokesperson for the US State Department said Washington was concerned by the ongoing violence and civilian casualties along the Cambodia–Thailand border. The spokesperson added that President Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio remained in contact with Cambodian and Thai officials, as well as with Malaysia, to convey those concerns.

“We strongly urge the immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians, and for both sides to fully implement the ceasefire and other de-escalatory measures outlined in the 26 October Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

On Wednesday, Cambodia’s Defence Ministry accused Thailand of using fighter jets to drop bombs in the border province of Banteay Meanchey, describing the strikes as “brutal” and indiscriminate.

Thailand, meanwhile, said Cambodian forces continued to fire heavy weapons into civilian areas of Sa Kaeo province, prompting Thai troops to retaliate.

Source: Reuters



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