Thailand and Cambodia are scrambling to stabilize a fragile ceasefire after days of deadly border clashes, organizing separate diplomatic tours along the contested frontier to showcase the damage and assert their versions of events, reported by Euro News.
The ceasefire, brokered Monday in Malaysia under the mediation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, took effect at midnight—but was immediately strained by renewed accusations from both sides. Each country alleges the other violated the terms within hours of the truce’s commencement.
On Friday, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to escort military attachés and media representatives to affected areas near the border, hoping to present evidence of Cambodian aggression. Cambodia, meanwhile, hosted a similar trip Wednesday, attended by diplomats from 13 countries, including China and the U.S., and has another scheduled for Friday.
Despite these efforts, the atmosphere remains tense. Thai government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub reported no new clashes overnight Thursday, a rare moment of calm. Still, Thai officials in Surin province urged displaced civilians not to return home yet, citing lingering threats from unexploded ammunition.
Meanwhile, Cambodia has begun repatriating its fallen and captured. One Cambodian soldier’s body was returned by Thailand on Thursday, and Prime Minister Hun Manet called for the release of 20 other soldiers still in Thai custody.
“I hope the Thai Army will return all our soldiers as soon as possible,” Hun Manet stated, emphasizing ongoing military dialogue.
Thailand’s Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa assured that the captured soldiers were “being well taken care of” and would be released once security assessments are complete.
The fighting, which erupted after months of rising tension, has already claimed at least 41 lives. It was sparked by a landmine blast that injured five Thai soldiers, following a May skirmish in which a Cambodian soldier was killed.
ASEAN leaders continue to watch nervously, hoping the ceasefire holds long enough for diplomatic dialogue to take root and for cooler heads to prevail.
