Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to renew their ceasefire after days of deadly border clashes threatened to derail a truce brokered earlier this year, United States President Donald Trump announced on Friday (December 12, 2025).
Trump said both countries committed to halting all hostilities with immediate effect and returning to the original peace agreement mediated by the US and Malaysia.
Ceasefire to Take Effect Immediately, Trump Says
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to “cease all shooting effective this evening.”
“They have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me, and them, with the help of the Great Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim,” Trump wrote.
The announcement followed Trump’s phone calls with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.
No Immediate Official Response From Thailand, Cambodia
While Trump confirmed the renewed truce, Thai and Cambodian officials had not immediately issued formal statements following the announcement.
However, earlier on Friday, Anutin said he had reiterated Thailand’s stance to Trump, stating that Bangkok would continue military operations until Cambodia no longer posed a threat to Thai sovereignty.
Deadly Clashes Along Disputed Border
The renewed ceasefire comes after intense fighting erupted along multiple points of the disputed 817-kilometre Thailand-Cambodia border.
According to reports, both sides exchanged artillery fire and rockets, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 260 others. Thailand deployed jet fighters to conduct airstrikes on what it described as Cambodian military targets, while Cambodia reportedly used BM-21 rocket launchers with a range of up to 40 kilometres.
Thailand’s army said several residential areas near the border were damaged by rocket fire, and at least six Thai soldiers were killed by shrapnel.
Role of Malaysia and Earlier Ceasefire
The original ceasefire was brokered in July 2025 through mediation by Malaysia, with strong diplomatic pressure from the Trump administration. Trump had earlier warned that trade privileges could be withdrawn if both sides failed to halt fighting.
The agreement was later formalised in October at a regional meeting in Malaysia attended by Trump. Despite the truce, sporadic violence and a war of words between Bangkok and Phnom Penh continued.
Trump credited Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for playing a key role in persuading both sides to recommit to peace.
Trump Claims Diplomatic Success
Calling the renewed truce an important diplomatic achievement, Trump said the conflict could have escalated into a wider war.
“It is my honor to work with Anutin and Hun in resolving what could have evolved into a major war between two otherwise wonderful and prosperous countries,” he said.
Later, speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said his administration had done “a very good job” in stabilising the situation. “So Thailand and Cambodia is in good shape,” he added.
Background: Why Thailand and Cambodia Are Fighting
The Thailand-Cambodia border dispute dates back over a century and centres on competing territorial claims rooted in colonial-era maps drawn during French rule over Cambodia.
Tensions escalated following a 1962 International Court of Justice ruling that awarded the Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia. While the ruling settled ownership of the temple, it left surrounding territory undefined, fuelling decades of disputes.
The conflict has flared repeatedly, including major clashes between 2008 and 2011, highlighting the fragile nature of peace along the border.
Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
