KUALA LUMPUR/PHNOM PENH, Dec. 24, 2025 — Cambodia and Thailand agreed to hold defense-level talks on Christmas Eve in an effort to revive a ceasefire after nearly three weeks of intense border fighting, regional officials said.
The discussions come as clashes continue along the two countries’ disputed frontier, raising pressure on both governments to halt the violence and address a growing humanitarian crisis. (RELATED: Cambodia Vs. Thailand: A Military Comparison)
The latest round of fighting began Dec. 8, reigniting a long-running territorial dispute along the roughly 817-kilometer border. The clashes followed the collapse of a ceasefire signed in October that had briefly eased tensions.
That earlier truce was witnessed in Kuala Lumpur by U.S. President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Trump later cited the agreement as a diplomatic achievement. The deal, however, lacked strong enforcement mechanisms and quickly unraveled amid mutual accusations of violations.
Despite repeated international calls for restraint from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, daily exchanges of artillery and rocket fire have continued. (RELATED: China Tested The World’s Largest Jiutian Mothership Drone, Capable Of Launching Over A Hundred Attack UAVs)
At least dozens of people have been killed, according to regional officials, and more than half a million residents have been displaced from border provinces on both sides.
Cambodian authorities have accused Thai forces of shelling civilian areas. Bangkok, in turn, has charged Phnom Penh with planting landmines and breaching the original ceasefire terms.
Ahead of the talks, a Chinese special envoy for Asian affairs renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire and offered Beijing’s support to mediate between the two governments.
ASEAN foreign ministers met in Kuala Lumpur last week to explore options for ending the crisis, with Malaysia urging stronger regional involvement and the adoption of confidence-building measures.
The U.S. Embassy has also issued travel warnings for the volatile border zone, citing unpredictable security conditions for civilians and foreign visitors.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said a general border committee meeting planned for later this week would emphasize detailed bilateral negotiations rather than broad statements.
“Progress depends on concrete steps toward de-escalation,” he told reporters.
As Cambodian and Thai officials prepare, regional leaders and diplomats say they hope the discussions can restore a ceasefire that has so far proved elusive and prevent further suffering along one of Southeast Asia’s most contested frontiers.
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