Cambodia Thailand halts ceasefire after border incident
Following a landmine incident in the border area that left four Thai soldiers injured, Bangkok has temporarily suspended the ceasefire with neighboring Cambodia. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul explained that the incident showed that hostilities had not subsided as expected. "After today's incident, cooperation cannot continue for the time being." It also said that the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers agreed as part of the ceasefire would be halted for the time being.
11.11.2025, 08:35
SDA
The neighboring countries had only signed a peace agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump at the end of October. Trump had traveled to the summit meeting of the Southeast Asian community of states Asean in Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur especially for this purpose. This followed heavy fighting on the Thai-Cambodian border in July.
The Cambodian Ministry of Defense announced that it regretted the incident. However, according to a report in the "Khmer Times" newspaper, it firmly rejected accusations that the landmines had been newly laid.
"Right to self-defense"
According to the Bangkok Post newspaper, the exploded landmines in Si Sa Ket province caused one soldier to lose a foot and three colleagues to suffer moderate injuries. "The evidence leads to the conclusion that intruders secretly removed the barbed wire and planted the landmines in Thai territory to attack the personnel who regularly patrol there," said military spokesman Winthai Suvaree.
Army chief Pana Klaewplodthuk emphasized: "The truth has now come out clearly: The hostile attitude persists. The Royal Thai Army is therefore forced to terminate all agreements in order to preserve the right to self-defense against unfair acts."
What is the agreement about?
Among other things, the agreement provides for the withdrawal of heavy weapons and joint demining operations. In addition, 18 Cambodian prisoners of war who are imprisoned in Thailand should soon be released. However, Thailand accuses Cambodia of delaying the clearance and even laying new landmines.
At the end of July, there were days of fighting between the armed forces of the two countries along the 800-kilometer border, in which more than 40 people died and hundreds of thousands fled. The border conflict has been simmering for decades.
After Trump intervened and spoke to the heads of government of both countries on the phone several times, Thailand and Cambodia agreed on an "immediate and unconditional" ceasefire at an initial meeting in Malaysia at the end of July. Trump had threatened them with economic consequences if the conflict was not resolved.
