Ceasefire
Thailand has accused Cambodia of “deliberately” violating a ceasefire the two countries had agreed on Monday to end border clashes that have killed at least 33 people and displaced thousands.
It’s a shaky start for the ceasefire, which was meant to bring an end to five days of bombardment and rocket attacks along the shared border.
The Thai military says it stopped firing after midnight, but that it continued to receive gunfire from the Cambodian side “at multiple locations” up until this morning.
But Cambodia’s defence ministry told the AFP news agency there had been “no armed clashes” between the two sides since the ceasefire began at midnight.
A meeting between local commanders which was part of the ceasefire agreement has been postponed twice, and may not happen at all.
Tensions between the South East Asian countries over their century-old disputed border ramped up in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash.
They escalated into a full-scale conflict last week after five Thai soldiers were injured in a landmine explosion. Thailand closed some of its border crossings, expelled the Cambodian ambassador and recalled its own from Phnom Penh.
After the two sides exchanged gunfire early on Thursday, Cambodia fired multiple rockets into Thailand, killing several civilians.
More civilians died on both sides in the following days, and tens of thousands more were evacuated to shelters.
Intense exchanges of fire between the two armies continued up to midnight on Monday, the deadline for the ceasefire, with Thailand launching more air strikes on Cambodian positions.
But on Tuesday morning, before Thailand alleged the ceasefire had been violated, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet said that the “frontlines have eased” since midnight.
Under the agreement, both sides had agreed to pull back their armies and to accept some kind of independent monitoring to prevent further clashes.
Hun Manet and his Thai counterpart Phumtham Wechayachai had met on Monday in Malaysia in a meeting brokered by its leader Anwar Ibrahim.
An outgunned Cambodia had been pushing for a ceasefire and its leader called it a very good meeting.
Thailand, which had initially been reluctant to negotiate, agreed after US President Donald Trump threatened to halt talks over tariffs until Thailand and Cambodia stopped fighting.
In fact, the argument between Thailand and Cambodia dates back more than a century, when the borders of the two nations were drawn after the French occupation of Cambodia.
Things officially became hostile in 2008, when Cambodia tried to register an 11th Century temple located in the disputed area as a Unesco World Heritage Site – a move that was met with heated protest from Thailand.
Over the years there have been sporadic clashes that have seen soldiers and civilians killed on both sides.
The latest tensions ramped up in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash. This plunged bilateral ties to their lowest point in more than a decade.
In the past two months, both countries have imposed border restrictions on one another. Cambodia banned imports from Thailand such as fruits and vegetables, and stopped importing power and internet services.
In a statement Tuesday, Thailand accused Cambodian forces of deliberately violating the cease-fire agreement by attacking several areas within Thai territory. The attacks consisted of weapon fire, which the Royal Thai Army said it responded to in defense.
For Thailand and Cambodia—two neighbors tethered by a long, contentious history—the latest ceasefire may have been too fragile to hold. Just hours after signing an “immediate and unconditional” truce brokered in Malaysia, Thailand sharply accused Cambodia of breaking the agreement, casting a shadow over hopes for regional calm.
Ceasefire Falls Before It Finds Ground
On July 28, 2025, under the diplomatic auspices of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and pressure from the United States, both nations agreed to a unilateral cessation of hostilities—their first in a violent episode fueled by longstanding territorial disputes and burgeoning military clashes. The ceasefire took effect at midnight, signaling a potential end to five deadly days of fighting that left at least 38 people dead and nearly 300,000 displaced.PoliticoWikipedia+1
However, when the clock struck twelve, the Thai military reported immediate violations. Armed clashes allegedly erupted in several border areas, with GoI (Government of India) citing that Cambodian troops fired into Thai territory. Thai forces, in turn, said they retaliated “appropriately” and in “self-defense.”Al JazeeraThe TribuneeuronewsOutlook IndiaThe Star
Accusations vs Denials
Thailand’s Stance
Thai Army spokesman Major-General Winthai Suvaree described Cambodia’s actions as deliberate violations intended to undermine the ceasefire and shatter trust. Thailand affirmed its commitment to peace but reserved the right to respond if provocations continued.Al JazeeraKathmandu PostThe TribuneeuronewsCambodia’s Response
Cambodian officials vigorously denied the claims. Their Defense Ministry insisted no armed conflicts had occurred post-ceasefire, pointing to a lull in hostilities. Phnom Penh supported deploying observers to verify compliance and maintain openness.euronewsAl JazeeraThe Tribune
A Ceasefire Hanging by a Thread
On-the-ground reports offered a fractured view. In Thailand’s Surin province, minor skirmishes reportedly lingered, even as most areas quieted. Cambodian border towns likewise observed a calm morning, reinforcing mixed signals about the truce’s validity.The TribuneAl Jazeera+1
Scheduled military talks and joint coordination meetings were disrupted. A planned meeting between commanders was postponed, leaving a critical gap in diplomacy just as mistrust took root.The Tribuneeuronews
Backdrop: A Broader Conflict
This fragile ceasefire is the latest chapter in a broader and escalating 2025 conflict. Earlier in the year, skirmishes over border territories—including the historic temples of Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom—sparked heightened tensions. Clashes in May, followed by leaks and diplomatic row between governments, set the stage. Civilian displacement and casualties rose sharply as hostilities intensified.Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3
International actors, notably the U.S. (via President Trump) and ASEAN regional powers, exerted pressure to reach a ceasefire—highlighting concerns about regional instability and the broader geopolitical implications.PoliticoReuters+1New York Post
Why This Matters
Trust in tatters: When ceasefires break so soon after agreement, trust erodes quickly. The path to peace becomes even more treacherous.
Diplomacy needs structure: Post-truce mechanisms—like military coordination and third-party monitoring—are critical. Without them, even minor flare-ups can derail progress.
Millions remain vulnerable: Displaced communities await stability, yet every violation threatens displacement, fear, and humanitarian crisis.
Regional ripple effects: Continued instability affects tourism, cross-border trade, and broader ASEAN cohesion. It also draws in global stakeholders like China and the U.S.
Looking Ahead
The ceasefire—though conceptually a step forward—remains perilous. The next few days will be pivotal: will both sides recommit to diplomacy or retreat into renewed confrontation?
Observers from ASEAN, Malaysia, and possibly the U.S., along with scheduled meetings in early August, could help rebuild fragile trust. For now, all eyes remain on the border, where every hour counts.
Both countries have also strengthened troop presence along the border in recent weeks. Click here
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