Cambodia Begins Heavy-Weapon Withdrawal from Thai Border Following Peace Accord
As part of the October 26 ceasefire deal, Cambodia commences removal of heavy military equipment and land-mine clearing from disputed frontier areas with Thailand
Cambodia has initiated the withdrawal of heavy weapons and military equipment from its border territory with Thailand, following the signing of a detailed peace agreement between Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 26. The accord, observed by U.S. President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, mandates the removal of heavy artillery, mine-clearance operations and the deployment of a regional observer team.
The act of withdrawal marks the first visible step by Phnom Penh toward implementing the expanded cease-fire terms.
Acting Thai Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit confirmed that the two countries' General Border Committee had agreed to begin the equipment pull-back “within weeks” and outlined plans for joint land-mine clearance and partial reopening of border checkpoints.
The agreement rises from a fractious July 2025 confrontation along the Cambodia–Thailand frontier that resulted in dozens of fatalities, more than 100,000 evacuations and the largest escalation between the neighbours in years.
Under the new deal, the observer team will monitor compliance, including weapon withdrawals and refugee repatriation.
For Thailand, the development reinforces Prime Minister Anutin’s diplomatic priority of stabilising the border and attracting foreign investment by minimising risk.
For Cambodia, the move supports Prime Minister Hun’s stated objective of consolidating peace and enabling economic growth in border provinces.
Observers see the implementation of this accord as a critical test of regional stability and the credibility of the peace mechanism.
The path ahead now depends on the timely de-escalation of forces, effective land-mine remediation, and the sustained presence of the observer team in affected zones.
The act of withdrawal marks the first visible step by Phnom Penh toward implementing the expanded cease-fire terms.
Acting Thai Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit confirmed that the two countries' General Border Committee had agreed to begin the equipment pull-back “within weeks” and outlined plans for joint land-mine clearance and partial reopening of border checkpoints.
The agreement rises from a fractious July 2025 confrontation along the Cambodia–Thailand frontier that resulted in dozens of fatalities, more than 100,000 evacuations and the largest escalation between the neighbours in years.
Under the new deal, the observer team will monitor compliance, including weapon withdrawals and refugee repatriation.
For Thailand, the development reinforces Prime Minister Anutin’s diplomatic priority of stabilising the border and attracting foreign investment by minimising risk.
For Cambodia, the move supports Prime Minister Hun’s stated objective of consolidating peace and enabling economic growth in border provinces.
Observers see the implementation of this accord as a critical test of regional stability and the credibility of the peace mechanism.
The path ahead now depends on the timely de-escalation of forces, effective land-mine remediation, and the sustained presence of the observer team in affected zones.
