At the tip of October 2025, Thailand and Cambodia signed a joint declaration geared toward ending border fighting and opening a brand new stage of cooperation.
The agreement, which included, amongst other things, the 2 countries withdrawing heavy weapons from their borders and beginning to remove land mines, was negotiated with the involvement of Donald Trump and enjoyed great international interest.
The agreement looked as if it would represent a promising moment within the long-running territorial dispute between the 2 neighbors. Unfortunately, Thailand has officially suspended the peace agreement, which creates a risk of continuation of the conflict.
What caused the suspension?
According to the Nation of Thailand, on November 10, 2025, Thai forces patrolling near the border province of Sisaket (also spelled Si Sa Ket) encountered a land mine, leading to several soldiers suffering serious injuries, considered one of whom lost an ankle.
The Thai military publicly attributed the explosion to newly laid mines on Thai territory, claiming that barbed wire had been disturbed and the mines had been placed to focus on Thai patrols.
The Thai government interpreted the incident as evidence that Cambodia remained hostile despite the ceasefire and peace agreement.
Thailand’s decision to suspend the agreement
In response to the incident, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced that each one activities under the agreement – including mine clearance, the withdrawal of heavy weapons and the planned release of prisoners of war from Cambodia – can be suspended.
This will occur until Cambodia demonstrates clarity and sincerity about its commitments to respect the peace agreement.
The Thai armed forces, including the military and air force, have officially stated that they’re suspending the implementation of all bilateral agreements under the Joint Declaration, citing continued hostility and prioritizing national defense.
Of particular note is the incontrovertible fact that the scheduled release of 18 Cambodian prisoners, which was a part of the agreement, has also been postponed.
Cambodia’s response
Meanwhile, the Cambodian government has denied any deliberate deployment of latest anti-personnel mines. Phnom Penh has argued that the various landmines along the border are remnants of past conflicts and never latest violations of the agreement.
Al Jazeera reported that Cambodia expressed “serious concern” over Thailand’s decision to suspend the peace agreement and reaffirmed its commitment to the joint declaration signed in Malaysia.
Analysts have warned that the move marks a significant setback for a peace process that was initially seen as fragile.
What’s next?
the parties proceed to accuse one another of violations. The landmine incident didn’t occur by itself, but followed explosions and patrol incidents that undermined the sturdiness of the ceasefire.
For Thailand, the incident symbolized the failure of the agreement to limit actual hostilities on the bottom; within the case of Cambodia, it highlighted the danger of being held liable for disputed and uncleaned border minefields.
The move raises questions on how the 2 countries will re-engage with each other: whether through renewed diplomacy, third-party mediation, or a return to a more confrontational posture.
Currently, a suspension has been announced with no set date for resumption. The Thai side has made it clear that progress will depend upon Cambodia demonstrating its commitment and ensuring that no further attacks or landmine incidents happen.
For its part, Cambodia called for renewed cooperation, but in addition highlighted the sensible difficulties of clearing decades-old minefields in rugged terrain and disputed areas. As a result, the peace agreement is currently in limbo until full confidence is restored.
In the border region, local communities and displaced people could also be hit hard by this failure: hopes for normalization, cross-border trade and resettlement may now be delayed.
At the regional level, the incident may prompt international actors – including the United States and ASEAN-affiliated partners – to reconsider how they support the monitoring and enforcement of such border peace agreements.
