Thailand’s Defence Minister, Nattaphon Narkphanit, said the agreement should be seen as a test of sincerity rather than a concession. He stressed that Thailand’s acceptance of what he described as a “conditional ceasefire” is intended to assess whether Cambodia can genuinely stop armed activities and cross-border threats.

Under the terms of the truce, Thailand has also agreed to return 18 Cambodian soldiers currently in its custody, provided the ceasefire holds for the full 72-hour period. Thai officials said the move is meant to build confidence and prevent further escalation.

The latest agreement follows a previous ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, which temporarily ended five days of clashes in July. That truce collapsed earlier this month after several Thai soldiers were injured by landmines near the contested border area, reigniting hostilities and diplomatic tensions.

The Thailand–Cambodia border has long been a source of friction, with periodic flare-ups linked to unresolved territorial claims and military deployments. While both countries have pledged to resolve disputes peacefully, incidents along the frontier have repeatedly tested bilateral relations.

In a parallel diplomatic effort, the foreign ministers of Thailand and Cambodia are reportedly leading delegations to China’s Yunnan province for talks, underscoring Beijing’s growing role as a regional mediator in Southeast Asian security matters.

Officials from both countries said the coming days will be critical in determining whether the ceasefire can be extended or form the basis for a longer-term de-escalation agreement.

The ceasefire appeared to hold, according to Thai Defence Ministry spokesperson Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, about two hours after it began at noon (0500 GMT).

“So far there’s been no report of gunfire,” he said. Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence reported no further clashes after a Thai airstrike early Saturday before the ceasefire.

The agreement, signed by Thai Defence Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit and Cambodian counterpart Tea Seiha, ended 20 days of fighting that killed at least 101 people and displaced more than half a million, involving fighter jets, rockets, and artillery.

“Both sides agree to maintain current troop deployments without further movement,” the ministers said.
“Any reinforcement would heighten tensions and negatively affect long-term efforts to resolve the situation,” according to Cambodia.

The ceasefire followed ASEAN foreign ministers’ talks and bilateral meetings at a border checkpoint. Displaced civilians will return, and Thailand will release 18 Cambodian soldiers if the truce holds for 72 hours. The agreement does not affect ongoing border demarcation.

“War and clashes don’t make the two countries or the two people happy,” said Thailand’s Air Chief Marshal Prapas Sornjaidee. “I want to stress that the Thai people and the Cambodian people are not in conflict with each other.”