Thailand on Tuesday released 18 Cambodian soldiers who had been held in custody since July, a move described by Bangkok as a “demonstration of goodwill and confidence-building” amid renewed efforts to stabilise a fragile ceasefire along the volatile Thai-Cambodian border.
The release comes after weeks of intense fighting between the two Southeast Asian neighbours and follows diplomatic pressure and mediation by the United States, China and Malaysia, which had earlier helped broker a temporary truce. That ceasefire, however, quickly collapsed, plunging the border region back into one of its most serious military escalations in years.
Thailand’s foreign ministry said the decision to free the Cambodian soldiers was intended to reduce tensions and create space for dialogue after both sides agreed on Saturday to halt hostilities. Cambodian officials welcomed the move but cautioned that deeper political and territorial issues remain unresolved.
The soldiers were captured during clashes that erupted earlier this year along disputed stretches of the roughly 800-kilometre border separating the two countries. Thailand has previously maintained that the detentions were carried out in accordance with military necessity, while Cambodia has consistently demanded their immediate release, referring to them as prisoners of war.
The issue of the detained soldiers was formally addressed in October, when US President Donald Trump travelled to Malaysia to oversee the signing of a follow-on declaration between Thailand and Cambodia. At the ceremony, Trump highlighted new trade deals and economic cooperation, presenting the agreement as evidence of Washington’s growing diplomatic engagement in Southeast Asia.
Under that pact, Thailand committed to “promptly release” the captured Cambodian soldiers, explicitly referring to them as prisoners of war. Both sides also agreed to prolong their truce and pursue further talks aimed at preventing future clashes.
However, the agreement unravelled just weeks later. Bangkok suspended its participation in the pact after several Thai soldiers were wounded by landmines while on patrol near the contested border. Thai authorities accused Cambodian forces of planting the mines, an allegation Phnom Penh denied, instead blaming remnants of unexploded ordnance from past conflicts.
The collapse of the agreement set the stage for a dramatic resurgence of violence this month. Fighting reignited across nearly every border province on both sides, involving artillery barrages, tank deployments, drone surveillance and even jet aircraft. Civilians were forced to flee frontline villages, schools were closed, and local economies ground to a halt as insecurity spread.
The roots of the conflict lie in a long-running territorial dispute dating back to the colonial era, when French administrators drew border lines that both countries have since contested. The most sensitive areas are those surrounding ancient temple ruins, which both Thailand and Cambodia claim as part of their historical and cultural heritage.
These centuries-old sites have repeatedly become flashpoints for nationalist sentiment and military confrontation, turning technical questions of demarcation into emotionally charged symbols of sovereignty. Despite multiple bilateral talks and international mediation efforts over the years, a comprehensive and mutually accepted border settlement has remained elusive.
While Saturday’s agreement to stop fighting has raised hopes of de-escalation, analysts warn that the ceasefire remains fragile. The underlying issue of border demarcation has yet to be resolved, and both sides continue to reinforce their positions along contested stretches.
Diplomats say sustained engagement by regional and global powers will be critical to preventing another breakdown. For now, Thailand’s release of the 18 Cambodian soldiers is being seen as a positive step, but one that must be followed by concrete negotiations if lasting peace is to be achieved along one of Southeast Asia’s most sensitive borders.
