Officials from Thailand and Cambodia are set to meet next week to explore the possibility of reviving a ceasefire, as deadly clashes along their disputed border continue into a third week, Thailand’s foreign minister has said.

The two sides signed a ceasefire agreement in July, brokered by US President Donald Trump, but fighting resumed earlier this month, with both governments accusing the other of violating the deal.

Senior officials from Bangkok and Phnom Penh held talks on Monday on the sidelines of a regional summit in Malaysia their first face-to-face meeting since hostilities reignited.

Speaking after the meeting, Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow described the July ceasefire as “rushed”, suggesting it was concluded to coincide with a planned visit by President Trump rather than based on realities on the ground.

“We were sometimes in a rush because the US wanted it signed by the visit of President Trump,” he said. “But sometimes we really just need to sit down, trash things out, and make sure the ceasefire reflects the situation on the ground and that it’s one that really holds.”

Mr Phuangketkeow confirmed that military officials from both countries are scheduled to meet on 24 December, stressing that progress at the military level is essential before any new ceasefire agreement can be finalised.

BBC understands that diplomats on both sides privately acknowledge that the July truce lacked clear enforcement mechanisms and failed to address key flashpoints along the border, leaving local commanders with wide discretion. A regional diplomatic source told the BBC that renewed talks would likely focus on confidence-building measures and clearer lines of communication between field commanders to prevent further escalation.

The border dispute has long been a source of tension between Thailand and Cambodia, periodically flaring into violence despite repeated diplomatic efforts to stabilise the frontier. Observers say the coming military talks will be a critical test of whether both sides are willing to move beyond political declarations toward a ceasefire that can endure.

BOB Post