Cambodia Urges Thailand to Honor Ceasefire, Rejects Border Allegations

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Aug. 20, 2025) — Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to the immediate and unconditional ceasefire agreement with Thailand, while rejecting recent allegations of border encroachment made by Thai authorities.

Speaking at a 7 a.m. press briefing, ministry spokesperson Nong Sakal said Cambodia remains determined to uphold the ceasefire reached on July 28, calling it a “solid foundation for lasting peace.”

Sakal said Cambodia had formally protested actions by Thai armed forces, including the placement of barbed wire, black nets, and tires along disputed areas of the border. The protest was lodged on Aug. 19 through the Cambodia Joint Border Commission (JBC), which requested the removal of the installations. “Such actions severely undermine trust,” Sakal said. “Cambodia calls on Thailand to fully comply with all bilateral agreements and international obligations.”

The spokesperson also welcomed international support for peace efforts. He thanked U.S. Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio for reaffirming Washington’s close monitoring of the situation and praised former President Donald Trump’s role in facilitating the ceasefire. Sakal further expressed gratitude to the European Union for its €700,000 ($816,000) emergency humanitarian aid package for civilians affected by recent clashes.

“We deeply appreciate the timely assistance from the EU, as well as contributions from China and Japan,” Sakal said. “This support reflects the international community’s commitment to peace and humanitarian relief.”

Addressing remarks made by Thailand’s acting prime minister on Aug. 18 regarding possible legal action against Cambodian leaders, Sakal said such statements “undermine peace-building efforts and severely damage trust.” He urged both sides to prioritize confidence-building and pursue practical steps to safeguard peace.

Sakal highlighted ongoing bilateral engagement through the General Border Committee (GBC), Regional Border Committees (RBC), and recent trilateral “Tea Chat” discussions involving Cambodia, Thailand, and China. He said these forums have helped foster mutual understanding and paved the way for smoother implementation of the ceasefire.

“The Cambodian government remains firmly committed to working with Thailand to achieve durable peace and restore relations to normalcy,” Sakal said.