Shaky start to Thailand-Cambodian truce

Cambodian and Thai military commanders convened this week to reinforce a fragile ceasefire following their most intense border clashes in over a decade. During the talks, they pledged not to target civilians or deploy additional troops along the contested frontier, according to a Thai army spokesperson. Meanwhile, a Cambodian parliamentary leader stated that the “armed clashes” between the two neighbours would cease.

US President Donald Trump, who had previously threatened to cancel trade negotiations with both countries over the violence, announced that the talks would resume now that a ceasefire had taken hold, as reported by in an article from the Council on Foreign Relations.

However, tensions remained high in the hours preceding the meeting, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of breaching the midnight truce. Cambodia’s defence ministry, however, denied that any new hostilities had occurred, insisting its forces were complying with the ceasefire terms.

Initially resistant to third-party intervention, Thailand reversed its position after Trump linked ongoing tariff negotiations to the cessation of violence. China, Myanmar, and the United States quickly offered mediation. Both countries face looming 36 per cent tariffs on exports to the US—their top trade partner—set to take effect August 1 if tensions reignite.

Observers remain sceptical about the ceasefire’s durability. Kokthay Eng, a Cambodian expert in history and international relations, cautioned in an interview with Al Jazeera that the truce could unravel if Thailand fails to secure favourable US tariff terms. “It is risky and will require clear markers to build traction,” he noted.

Southeast Asia political analyst Bridget Welsh agreed, stressing the importance of formal conflict resolution mechanisms. “A proper border survey should begin immediately,” she said. “Right now, it’s on pause because the roots of the conflict have yet to be addressed.”

According to the article, the root of the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute stretches back many decades, but more recent friction stems from the unravelling of a previously close relationship between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Thailand’s ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

Their personal rapport had helped manage disputes in the past, but last month, tensions exploded when Hun Sen publicly released an audio recording of a phone call with Thaksin’s daughter, then serving as Thailand’s prime minister. The fallout led to her suspension and further inflamed nationalist sentiments on both sides.

What began as a series of tense standoffs escalated last week into full-fledged military engagement, including artillery barrages and aerial strikes. By the time both governments agreed to halt hostilities, at least 43 people were confirmed dead and more than 300,000 civilians had been forced from their homes in affected areas.

Despite the truce, some crossfire was expected to persist temporarily. Late Tuesday, the Thai government reported a renewed skirmish near one of the conflict’s earlier hotspots. The Thai army confirmed gunfire exchanges continued into Wednesday morning, though without the use of heavy weaponry.

A stated in an Al Jazeera article, Jirayu Houngsub, spokesperson for the Thai prime minister’s office, stated via text that the Thai military was “responding and controlling the situation” at Phu Makhuea, a mountain in the disputed zone near Sisaket province.

Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Seiha also acknowledged “incidents” during ceasefire implementation but reiterated that Cambodia remained committed to peace and had not violated the agreement.

By Nazrin Sadigova