One Month On: Cambodia and Thailand Must Turn a Ceasefire Into Lasting Peace

One Month On: Cambodia and Thailand Must Turn a Ceasefire Into Lasting Peace

-Opinion-

One month has passed since the guns fell silent along the Cambodia–Thailand border, after the July clashes threatened to drag both countries into deeper conflict. The ceasefire, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump with active participation from China and coordination from Malaysia, was a turning point. It showed that even in moments of high tension, dialogue can prevail over confrontation. For Cambodia, which has endured decades of war and understands the heavy price of conflict, respecting this ceasefire is not symbolic—it is a matter of protecting lives, preserving sovereignty, and choosing stability over chaos.

Cambodia’s actions in the past month demonstrate this resolve. Cambodian forces have exercised restraint, despite occasional provocations. The government has repeatedly called for dialogue and urged all parties to avoid escalation. Cambodia has shown that peace is fragile but achievable if both sides act responsibly. For this reason, Cambodia has fully respected the ceasefire and will continue to do so.

But lasting peace cannot rest on one party’s commitment alone. Thailand must match Cambodia’s seriousness with equal discipline. Continued troop movements, threats of retaliation, or unilateral activities along the border only undermine confidence and threaten the lives of soldiers and civilians alike. Both nations must remember that victories on the battlefield bring only pain and division, while victories at the negotiating table bring opportunity, growth, and stability.

To make this ceasefire truly endure, the two countries must move beyond words and use the tools already at their disposal. Cambodia and Thailand have existing frameworks for dialogue and resolution—the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding, the Joint Boundary Commission, and the General Border Committee. These mechanisms were created to prevent disputes and manage sensitive areas, but they are only effective if they are active. They must be re-energized, meet regularly, and involve consistent communication at the military, diplomatic, and technical levels. Mutual respect is critical: no side should seek advantage at the expense of the other’s sovereignty or dignity. By turning these dormant platforms into engines of cooperation, both nations can turn a fragile truce into a durable peace.

Cambodia stands ready. Cambodia’s history proves that war solves nothing and costs everything. One month without bloodshed is a milestone, but it must be the beginning, not the end. The people living along the border deserve to see leaders on both sides choose dialogue over division. Cambodia calls on Thailand to walk the same path, so that the ceasefire of today becomes the peace of tomorrow.

Roth Santepheap is geopolitical analyst based in Phnom Penh. The views expressed are his own.
-Khmer Times-