The planned talks come as Southeast Asian leaders urge both countries to show “utmost restraint” and return to dialogue.
Published December 22, 2025
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to hold a meeting of defense officials later this week as regional leaders seek an end to deadly violence along their border.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phunketkeo announced plans for talks on Monday after a special meeting in Kuala Lumpur of Southeast Asian foreign ministers aimed at restoring a ceasefire.
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The ceasefire was first brokered by Malaysia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chair, and US President Donald Trump after cross-border fighting broke out in July.
Sihasak told reporters that this week’s talks will be held in Chanthaburi, Thailand, on Wednesday within the framework of the existing bilateral border commission.
However, just hours after regional crisis talks were held in Malaysia, the Cambodian Ministry of Defense announced that the Thai military had deployed fighter jets to bombed areas in Siem Reap and Preah Vihear provinces.
The Thai military said Cambodia fired dozens of rockets into Thailand and the Bangkok Air Force responded with airstrikes on two Cambodian military targets.
Thailand and Cambodia have exchanged daily rocket and artillery fire along their 817-kilometre (508-mile) land border since the end of the cease-fire, with fighting continuing at multiple points from forested areas near Laos to coastal areas in the Gulf of Thailand.
Despite the cross-border fires, Cambodia’s interior ministry said it remained optimistic that “the Thai side will show good faith” in implementing the ceasefire.
But Thailand’s Sihasak warned that the next round of talks may not result in an immediate ceasefire. “Our position is that a ceasefire must come through action, not announcements,” he said.
The ministry said the militaries of the two countries “will discuss in detail the implementation of the ceasefire, related measures and verification.”
The planned meeting came as ASEAN on Monday called on both countries to “exhibit utmost restraint and take immediate steps towards the cessation of all forms of hostilities.”
In a statement after the talks in Kuala Lumpur, ASEAN called on both Thailand and Cambodia to “restore mutual trust and confidence and return to dialogue.”
ASEAN member states also reiterated their concern over the ongoing conflict and “called on both parties to ensure that civilians residing in affected border areas can return to their homes without obstacles, in safety and dignity.”
