Thailand and Cambodia to Hold Talks Amid Ongoing Border Conflicts

Mon Dec 22 2025 16:11:41 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Negotiations are set to resume between Thailand and Cambodia in a bid to restore a ceasefire and halt ongoing border clashes that have resulted in numerous casualties and displacement.

In a bid to end a deadly conflict that has escalated over the past weeks, Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to hold talks next week. Both nations face mounting pressure as the renewed fighting has led to significant loss of life and widespread displacement of civilians. After a ceasefire brokered by former US President Donald Trump previously fell apart, both sides blame each other for the resurgence of hostilities. Officials emphasize the need for a more sustainable ceasefire reflective of current conditions on the ground.

Officials from Thailand and Cambodia will meet next week to discuss the possibility of reviving a ceasefire, Thailand's foreign minister said, as deadly border clashes entered a third week.

Both countries had signed a ceasefire earlier in July, brokered by US President Donald Trump. However, fighting broke out again earlier this month, leading to mutual accusations of blame.

In a recent summit held in Malaysia, high-ranking officials from both nations met face-to-face for the first time since the fighting resumed.

Thailand's Foreign Minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, commented that the July ceasefire had been rushed, attributed to pressure from the US for it to be signed before Trump's visit.

The foreign minister stated, We were sometimes in a rush because the US wanted it signed by the visit of President Trump. But sometimes we really just need to sit down, trash things out... to ensure that the ceasefire reflects the situation on the ground and that it holds.

A military officials meeting from both countries is scheduled for December 24 to facilitate potential ceasefire resolution.

However, Cambodia has yet to provide a public comment regarding the discussions.

The recent fighting has reportedly resulted in at least 41 fatalities and nearly one million displaced individuals across both nations.

Accusations and retaliatory strikes have characterized the current conflict, which reignites tensions from a historical dispute that has persisted for over a century. This situation represents the most severe conflict between ASEAN member states in decades, posing a challenge to the bloc's credibility.

Regional and global powers, including the US and China, have expressed their willingness to mediate a renewed ceasefire, highlighting the significance of addressing this conflict as it escalates further.