Cambodia-Thailand: Border meeting announces commitment to peace

A wave of cautious optimism is sweeping across the disputed border between Cambodia and Thailand following an extraordinary meeting of the Regional Border Committee (RBC).

His Excellency Lieutenant General Maly Socheata described the outcome of the meeting on Sunday as ‘very positive,’ seeing it as a ‘strong sign of peace’ between the two neighbouring nations. Photo: AKP

During a press briefing, the spokesperson emphasised:

‘Yesterday's results are a good indicator that the ceasefire agreement is holding. Everything has progressed positively, with high hopes that normality will return very soon.’ "

These comments, reported by the Agence Kampuchéa Presse (AKP), reflect a palpable sense of relief after weeks of tension.

Lieutenant General Socheata highlighted the messages conveyed by the highest Cambodian authorities to the meeting. She quoted Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, who welcomed the ‘positive results’ of this extraordinary session of the RBC, held on Saturday 16 August between Cambodia's Military Region 3 and Thailand's Chanthaburi-Trat Border Defence Command.

At the same time, the message from His Excellency General Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, was relayed. The minister expressed the hope that ‘the Thai side will continue to uphold the spirit of this extraordinary meeting’, a spirit guided by ‘transparency, sincerity and respect for the ceasefire’. General Tea Banh emphasised the imperative of working together ‘for peace, stability and the well-being of the armed forces and peoples of both nations’, adding:

‘We must work together to rebuild mutual trust and restore normality along our common border.’

Precarious calm and repeated request

The spokesperson confirmed that ‘calm and stability have been maintained’ on the front line in the provinces of Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey and Banteay Meanchey during the previous night, from midnight to 6 a.m. this morning. This lull on the ground seems to confirm, for the time being, the commitments made at the RBC meeting.

However, Phnom Penh has not eased pressure on a major point of contention. Lieutenant General Socheata firmly reiterated Cambodia's call for ‘the immediate return of the 18 Cambodian soldiers illegally detained by Thai forces since 29 July 2025’. This incident occurred just hours after the current ceasefire came into effect and remains a significant obstacle to full normalisation.

While the outcome of this extraordinary meeting of the RBC is being presented as an encouraging milestone by the Cambodian authorities, who are emphasising the strength of the ceasefire and the hope for a rapid return to normal, the continuing issue of the detained soldiers is a reminder of the fragility of the situation. The regional community is now watching to see whether this diplomatic momentum will translate into lasting détente and the resolution of outstanding disputes along this historically sensitive border.