Thailand has indefinitely suspended the implementation of its ceasefire agreement with Cambodia following a landmine explosion near the shared border that injured four Thai soldiers on November 10, 2025. The incident has reignited long-standing tensions between the two Southeast Asian neighbors, raising fears of renewed conflict in the volatile border region.
According to Thailand’s Ministry of Defence, the explosion occurred in Sisaket Province, along the heavily militarized border adjoining Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey region. Preliminary reports suggest that the landmine detonated while a Thai patrol unit was inspecting a disputed area that had seen intermittent clashes in recent years. All four soldiers sustained serious injuries and were airlifted to a military hospital in Bangkok for treatment.
Thai Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang announced late Monday that Bangkok would halt the implementation of the “Enhanced Ceasefire Understanding” signed in October 2025, citing Cambodia’s “failure to ensure safety and compliance” in the demilitarized zones. “Thailand will not tolerate any act that endangers our troops or violates the principles of the ceasefire. We demand a full investigation and accountability from the Cambodian side,” Sutin said in a televised address.
The Cambodian government, however, denied responsibility for the incident, suggesting that the explosion may have been caused by unexploded ordnance from past conflicts. Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesperson Chhum Socheat said Phnom Penh “remains committed to peace and dialogue” but warned that Thailand’s unilateral suspension of the ceasefire could “undermine regional stability.”
The ceasefire agreement, brokered with assistance from the United States and ASEAN observers, was designed to ease tensions following decades of territorial disputes around the Preah Vihear Temple and adjacent areas. The October accord had been hailed as a breakthrough, providing a framework for joint border patrols, mine-clearing operations, and communication hotlines to prevent skirmishes.
Analysts fear that Thailand’s latest move may derail the fragile progress made in the past month. Dr. Narongchai Kittikhun, a regional security expert at Chulalongkorn University, noted that “the timing of this suspension is critical. Any escalation, even accidental, could quickly spiral into a broader confrontation, especially given the deep historical mistrust between both militaries.”
In recent years, both countries have been working with international agencies to remove landmines left from past conflicts dating back to the 1980s and 1990s. The renewed blast underscores the persistent danger of unexploded ordnance and highlights the need for coordinated demining efforts across the border.
As diplomatic channels remain tense, ASEAN leaders have urged restraint and called for an emergency dialogue to prevent further escalation. The U.S. State Department also expressed concern, urging both nations to “honor their commitments to peace and regional cooperation.”
For now, Thailand’s suspension of the ceasefire leaves the future of bilateral peace efforts uncertain. With military units on high alert and public sentiment hardening on both sides, observers warn that restoring trust between Bangkok and Phnom Penh may take months—if not years.
