After months of simmering tensions and the specter of renewed violence, Thailand and Cambodia are poised to sign a landmark peace agreement that could finally put an end to decades of border disputes and restore stability along one of Southeast Asia’s most volatile frontiers. The deal, set to be signed on Sunday, October 26, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur during the ASEAN Summit, represents the culmination of intense negotiations, diplomatic shuttle work, and a rare display of regional unity.
The journey to this moment has been anything but easy. Just four months ago, a deadly five-day conflict erupted along the border, leaving at least 48 people dead and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes in both countries—the worst fighting between Thailand and Cambodia in decades, according to Reuters. An initial U.S.-backed ceasefire was signed on July 28, 2025, but the truce remained fragile as both sides continued to spar over disputed villages, land demarcation, and even allegations of cybercrime.
Now, after a flurry of high-level meetings in both Thailand and Malaysia, officials from Bangkok and Phnom Penh say they have reached “meaningful progress.” Thai Defence Minister Gen. Natthaphon Nakphanich described the talks as a breakthrough, noting that both countries have agreed on four crucial steps: withdrawing heavy weapons from border zones, launching joint de-mining operations, forming a bilateral cybercrime task force, and coordinating on border demarcation, particularly between Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province and Cambodia’s Bantheay Meanchey.
The upcoming agreement is not just about stopping the shooting. It is, in the words of Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Tea Seiha, a reflection of “mutual trust and confidence.” He confirmed the deal will include the release of 18 detained Cambodian soldiers, a gesture likely to ease lingering resentment on the Cambodian side.
Observers from Malaysia and the United States were present during the recent negotiations, reinforcing international support for the peace process. The presence of U.S. President Donald Trump at the signing ceremony—alongside Malaysian Prime Minister and ASEAN Chair Anwar Ibrahim—underscores Washington’s renewed interest in maintaining calm in a region where China’s influence is steadily growing. According to the Thai Foreign Ministry, the peace agreement, formally titled the Declaration of Thai-Cambodian Relations, will be signed by the two prime ministers during the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, with Trump himself witnessing the event.
“Both sides have agreed in principle on the withdrawal of heavy weapons, landmine clearance, and joint efforts to combat transnational crime under a step-by-step action plan,” Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told reporters, as reported by Khaosod English. This commitment follows progress made at the Special Meeting of the Cambodian–Thai Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) in Chanthaburi on October 21–22, where officials hammered out technical details on how to proceed with the long-stalled demarcation process.
One of the most sensitive issues has been the fate of Cambodian border villages in Banteay Meanchey province, which have been partially occupied by the Thai army since August. According to statements from both sides, officials agreed to use the neutral term “adjust land holding/possession” instead of the more provocative “relocate, remove, or destroy” when referring to disputed land in the Ban Nong Chan–Ban Nong Ya Kaeo area. This linguistic shift, while subtle, signals a willingness to find common ground and avoid inflaming nationalist passions.
Both delegations also approved the use of cutting-edge LiDAR technology to accelerate joint surveys and mapping of the border, replacing the decades-old orthophoto maps. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the two countries agreed to instruct the Joint Technical Sub-Commission to replace 15 boundary pillars at their original locations and specifications, while three submerged pillars will be replaced at new, mutually agreed positions.
“Significant progress has been made in removing an unnecessary prerequisite for the revision of the TOR 2003, paving the way for improved work progress in the survey and identification of our common land boundary,” said Prasas Prasasvinitchai, Adviser to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and co-chair of the JBC, according to statements from the meeting. The JBC meeting was described as “straightforward and constructive,” a tone echoed by Benchamin Sukanjanajtee, Director-General of the Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs, who noted that it was the first JBC meeting to issue a joint statement.
The technical work ahead will focus on the segment from Boundary Pillars 42 to 47, located in the Chouk Chey-Nong Chan and Prey Chan-Nong Ya Kaeo areas. Since August, Thai armed forces have partially occupied these villages, barricading parts with barbed wire and evicting 12 Cambodian families. The statement from the JBC stressed that the emplacement of temporary markers “is for survey purposes only and shall be without prejudice to the international boundary between Cambodia and Thailand.”
To ensure the safety of the joint survey teams, both governments have instructed local military and civilian authorities to avoid any acts of provocation and to clear landmines in line with the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding. Humanitarian demining will be conducted under standard operating procedures, with the aim of supporting socio-economic development while maintaining national sovereignty. The agreement also includes an action plan for cooperation on transnational crime, including cyber scams and human trafficking, with a joint task force to be established between the Cambodian National Police and the Royal Thai Police.
Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia has sought to reassure his citizens that no secret deals or territorial concessions have been made. “I wish to reaffirm clearly that there has been absolutely no secret agreement or territorial concession of any land under Cambodia’s lawful sovereignty to any country in exchange for ceasefire or peace negotiations,” he stated, as reported by the Khmer Times. He emphasized that both sides had held “detailed discussions to seek a transparent and legitimate resolution.”
For communities along the border, the stakes are high. The July conflict and subsequent occupation disrupted lives, uprooted families, and bred deep mistrust. Mr. Hun Manet acknowledged the frustration among citizens who might have viewed the government’s calm and measured response as ineffective amid heightened tensions on the ground. He insisted that “any use of violence would not only fail to resolve the problem but could expand the area of conflict, cause greater harm to more people, and make finding a solution even more difficult.”
Looking ahead, both sides have agreed to continue technical work, including joint surveys and the placement of temporary markers based on historical documents, to ensure that future resolutions reflect the actual occupation of residents on both sides. The next JBC meeting is scheduled for the first week of January 2026 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, where both countries will review progress and continue to iron out unresolved issues.
As the ink dries on the upcoming peace agreement, many in the region will be watching closely to see whether Thailand and Cambodia can turn this fragile truce into a lasting peace. For now, the mood among officials is one of cautious optimism—a sense that, after years of tension and tragedy, the two neighbors are finally ready to give peace a real chance.