In a significant step toward regional stability, Thailand and Cambodia have begun withdrawing heavy weaponry from their contentious border, following the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord on October 26, 2025. The agreement, hailed as a milestone for Southeast Asian diplomacy, was inked by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, with Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and United States President Donald Trump standing as official witnesses. The accord, which formalizes a ceasefire reached in August, is designed to end a cycle of violence and mistrust that has plagued the two countries for generations.
The 817-kilometre border between Thailand and Cambodia has long been a source of tension, with disputes dating back to 1907. The situation escalated sharply on July 24, 2025, when a five-day armed confrontation erupted, resulting in casualties, property damage, and the detention of 18 Cambodian soldiers by Thai forces. According to Bernama, fighting ended on July 28 after Malaysia, the US, and China brokered a ceasefire, but the diplomatic fallout lingered for nearly four months.
Now, with the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord in place, both governments are under pressure to deliver rapid, concrete results. "Anutin highlighted the importance of strengthening coordination to ensure the implementation of other key issues, particularly cooperation in combating transnational crimes, conducting landmine clearance, and implementing agreements on border management," Thai government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat told Free Malaysia Today. He stressed that the process of withdrawing heavy weapons must be earnest and consistent to guarantee the safety of border communities.
The peace accord’s provisions are extensive. They mandate military de-escalation under the watchful eye of the ASEAN Observer Team, including the removal of heavy and destructive weapons from the border and their return to regular military installations. Both sides also committed to tackling transnational crime, clearing landmines, and improving border management. The agreement, as Bangkok Post reports, sets the stage for a phased withdrawal of weaponry—a process that began symbolically on October 26 and is expected to unfold over at least six weeks.
Yet, the path to full normalization is anything but straightforward. Prime Minister Anutin has made it clear that Thailand will not reopen its border with Cambodia until four conditions are met: complete withdrawal of heavy weaponry, comprehensive landmine removal, suppression of transnational criminal syndicates (including scammers), and concrete solutions to ongoing border conflicts. Only after these benchmarks are achieved—and diplomatic relations are fully restored—will Thailand consider reopening border checkpoints. "Everyone knows that the most important thing is the reopening of the border. Thailand holds to that," Anutin told Bangkok Post in Kuala Lumpur.
One particularly thorny issue is the fate of the 18 Cambodian soldiers detained during the July conflict. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has called on Thailand to release the soldiers on humanitarian grounds, as stipulated in the peace accord. "The immediate task for both sides is to work closely together to ensure the full and faithful implementation of the Joint Declaration (KL Peace Accord)," Manet said in a statement published by Bernama. He emphasized that both countries share responsibility for carrying out the agreement’s terms, underscoring the need for trust and good faith.
For Cambodia, the release of the soldiers is not just a matter of diplomacy—it’s a point of national pride and a test of the accord’s sincerity. Meanwhile, Thailand has tied the soldiers’ release to Cambodia’s fulfillment of the four conditions, particularly the withdrawal of BM-21 multiple rocket launchers. According to Thai Defence Minister Gen Nattaphon Narkphanit, Cambodia used these launchers during attacks on Thai civilian locations in late July, causing significant casualties and damage. "Thailand expected Cambodia to remove its BM-21 multiple rocket launchers," Nattaphon told Bangkok Post, noting that the withdrawal process would unfold in three phases, with details still being finalized.
Landmine clearance is another critical component of the peace process. Anutin has stated that most of the mines were laid on Thai territory, so the removal effort will be led by Thai experts. This task is not only technically demanding but also emotionally charged, as landmines continue to pose a deadly threat to civilians living along the border. The urgency is palpable; both governments have acknowledged that their citizens and the media are closely monitoring progress, eager for tangible signs of peace and safety.
Efforts to implement the accord are being closely coordinated at the highest levels. On October 28, during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Anutin and Hun Manet met for bilateral talks focused on translating agreements into action. According to Siripong, the leaders agreed to enhance diplomatic communication and to schedule early meetings between their foreign ministers. "The people and media of both countries are closely monitoring the progress of its implementation. Therefore, it is the responsibility of both sides to demonstrate tangible progress and act sincerely and in good faith in fulfilling the commitments made, in order to ensure stability and safety for their citizens," Siripong told Free Malaysia Today.
Despite the positive momentum, some border crossings remain closed, including the Chong Sai Taku checkpoint in Buri Ram province, as reported by Bangkok Post. The closures are a stark reminder that the peace process, while promising, is still in its infancy. The legacy of mistrust, the complexity of landmine removal, and the challenge of dismantling criminal networks mean that both governments must remain vigilant and committed to the accord’s principles.
The diplomatic thaw is also marked by gestures of goodwill. Anutin publicly thanked Hun Manet for his condolences on the passing of Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of Thailand—a small but meaningful sign of renewed bilateral respect. As both countries work to restore full diplomatic ties, these gestures help to rebuild the trust that was so badly damaged during the summer’s hostilities.
Looking ahead, the successful implementation of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord could serve as a model for conflict resolution in Southeast Asia, where historical grievances and territorial disputes remain all too common. The involvement of regional organizations like ASEAN and the presence of international observers underscore the importance of multilateralism in maintaining peace and stability.
For now, the eyes of Southeast Asia—and indeed the world—remain fixed on the Thai-Cambodian border, where the promise of peace is being tested, step by careful step, against the hard realities of history and geopolitics.
