Thailand and Cambodia have agreed on an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, effective from midnight local time on July 28, 2025, bringing to an end five days of deadly border clashes.
The agreement was reached during a mediation meeting in Malaysia hosted by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, chair of ASEAN, and attended by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s acting head of government Phumtham Wechayachai.
Representatives of both the United States and China were also present.
The conflict erupted on July 24 following a landmine explosion that injured five Thai soldiers and escalated quickly on both sides of their shared border.
The fighting marked the worst escalation in this long-running dispute in over a decade, involving artillery, air strikes, and heavy troop deployments.
At least 35 to 36 people were killed, including civilians and soldiers, and more than 270,000 people were displaced across both nations .
The ceasefire deal includes steps to rebuild diplomatic ties and prevent further hostilities. Military leaders from both countries will start talks on July 29.
Cambodia will host a joint border committee meeting on August 4, while foreign and defense ministers from Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand will design a mechanism to oversee and enforce the ceasefire .
International diplomatic pressure helped secure the truce. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had warned that trade negotiations with both countries would be suspended unless the violence ended.
Observers credit this as a driving factor toward compromise, alongside participation from Chinese envoys .
Following the agreement, Cambodia’s PM called for a return to normal relations and urged evacuees to return home with caution.
Thailand’s acting PM described the outcome as reaffirming the country’s hope for resolution and compromise .
While the ceasefire offers relief to displaced families and communities, analysts note that the underlying border dispute, rooted in historical claims, remains unresolved.
Continued dialogue and trust‐building will determine whether peace holds or tensions resume.