Thailand and Cambodia have resumed discussions aimed at establishing a lasting ceasefire in their border conflict, which reignited earlier this month. Both nations announced the resumption of talks on Wednesday, as reported by The Nation and other Thai media outlets. A meeting involving senior military officers took place at a border checkpoint in Chanthaburi Province in eastern Thailand, lasting approximately 35 minutes.
The ongoing negotiations are regarded as a crucial move by both countries to halt hostilities that have persisted since the resurgence of fighting over two weeks ago. The brief meeting served to lay the groundwork for further discussions at the level of defence ministers scheduled for Saturday. During this interim period, discussions within a joint committee focused on border issues will continue at the state secretary level.
According to a spokesperson from the Thai Defence Ministry, if the preliminary talks yield positive results, the ministerial meeting will proceed as planned. A representative from the Cambodian Defence Ministry emphasized that the upcoming ministers’ meeting aims to explore solutions for restoring stability between the two countries, as reported by the AKP state news agency.
Fighting has erupted at various points along the approximately 800-kilometre border, with both sides accusing each other of targeting civilians. Each country has firmly rejected these allegations. The conflict originates from a longstanding territorial dispute that has caused significant turmoil in the region.
The situation has resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of individuals on both sides of the border. A serious escalation in fighting occurred in July, which was briefly quelled by a ceasefire agreement that lasted only a few days. Subsequently, the ceasefire was suspended in November following renewed border incidents, and the situation has continued to deteriorate since a cross-border exchange of fire on December 7, 2023.
As diplomatic efforts continue, both Thailand and Cambodia express a commitment to seeking a resolution to restore peace and stability in the border area. The outcome of the upcoming talks will be pivotal in determining the future of relations between the two nations and the well-being of the affected populations.
