Thailand accuses Cambodia of violating fresh ceasefire

Thailand’s army has accused Cambodia of violating a newly signed ceasefire agreement, raising concerns over the durability of a deal that had been hailed as a breakthrough after weeks of deadly border clashes that displaced nearly one million people.

In a statement issued on December 29, the Royal Thai Army said more than 250 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were detected flying from the Cambodian side on December 28 night, Caliber.Az reports per the BBC.

According to the Thai military, these actions “constitute provocation and a violation of measures aimed at reducing tensions” and are “inconsistent” with the terms of the ceasefire.

The ceasefire came into force at 12:00 local time (05:00 GMT) on December 27, with both sides agreeing to freeze front lines at their current positions, ban reinforcements, and facilitate the return of civilians living in border areas as soon as possible. The agreement followed days of negotiations, with diplomatic encouragement from China and the United States.

The Thai army warned that it “may need to reconsider” the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers who have been held in Thailand since July. 

The accusations came just hours after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi praised the “hard-won” ceasefire, while U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed what he described as a “rapid and fair conclusion” to the talks.

The territorial dispute between Thailand and Cambodia dates back more than a century, largely centred on contested border areas and historic temple sites. Tensions escalated earlier this year after a group of Cambodian women sang patriotic songs at a disputed temple.

In May, a Cambodian soldier was killed during a clash, pushing bilateral relations to their lowest point in more than a decade. This was followed by five days of intense fighting along the border, leaving dozens of soldiers and civilians dead and displacing thousands.

Although a fragile ceasefire was agreed in July and formally signed in October, it collapsed earlier this month amid renewed clashes, with both sides accusing each other of violating the truce.

By Khagan Isayev