Border Clashes Persist Despite Presidential Ceasefire Claims as Thailand and Cambodia Brace for Peace Negotiations

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

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Image Source: AFP via Getty Images

Fighting along the nearly 800-kilometer border between Thailand and Cambodia intensified early Saturday, hours after remarks from the United States president suggested that a ceasefire had taken hold. Despite this assertion, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul indicated that any cessation of hostilities would hinge on concrete actions from Cambodia, including the withdrawal of forces and removal of landmines from disputed areas.

The situation has produced a humanitarian crisis of considerable scale, with shelling continuing overnight in several frontier zones. At least 21 people have died in the renewed fighting, and authorities have estimated that roughly half a million people have been evacuated from affected communities in both nations. The escalation has prompted international concern and sustained calls for a durable and verifiable peace process to prevent further casualties and displacement.

In a sequence of statements that seemingly contradicted each other, the U.S. president publicly announced via social media that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to cease shooting, following conversations with the leaders of both countries during the previous day. The two leaders reportedly spoke by phone on Friday night, and an earlier pledge to restore calm had been rolled into a broader appeal for compliance with a September agreement brokered by regional partners. Yet, Anutin pressed for a more robust demonstration of commitment on the Cambodian side, insisting on verifiable de-escalation before a ceasefire could be definitively proclaimed.

The renewed clashes marked a sharp turn from persistent diplomacy in recent months, during which both sides had previously exchanged accusations over which nation initiated hostilities. Cambodia reported airstrikes within its territory, claiming that Thai forces used F-16s to strike multiple targets on December 13, while Bangkok officials denied ongoing bombardment and pointed to Cambodian actions as the primary provocations. The Cambodian defense ministry posted a statement accusing Thai aircraft of crossing into Cambodian airspace and dropping seven bombs on several targets, a claim Thailand has not yet publicly corroborated.

Analysts say the current dynamics underscore the fragility of any ceasefire when trust between the two governments remains frayed and when external actors project influence over the process. Regional observers emphasize the need for an internationally supervised, verifiable agreement that can address the root causes of the border dispute, including long-standing questions over territorial delineation and resource sharing along the frontier. As humanitarian needs surge, aid agencies are intensifying efforts to reach displaced populations and deliver essential supplies, even as security concerns complicate access to affected communities.

Diplomatic channels are expected to remain open as Thailand and Cambodia prepare for renewed discussions with mediators and regional partners. In the meantime, residents along the border brace for possible renewed violence, while both governments face intense scrutiny from international observers hoping to see a durable path to peace.