Thailand Calls Emergency NSC Meeting as Cambodia Peace Deal Stalls After Border Blast
Prime Minister Anutin suspends bilateral peace declaration with Cambodia following a land-mine explosion and summons the National Security Council for urgent review
Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced late Monday that he had convened a meeting of the National Security Council for 8.30am on Tuesday to address escalating border tensions with Cambodia after a land-mine blast injured Thai soldiers near the Sisaket frontier.
When asked whether the peace declaration signed last month with Phnom Penh would be terminated, he replied: “It must be suspended for now, and there will be a process and procedure for that.”
The incident occurred during a Thai patrol near the Preah Vihear temple region and appears to be the latest in a string of mine-related explosions that have challenged the fragile truce.
The Thai army claims the mine was newly planted after barbed-wire defences were removed, an accusation denied by Cambodia.
The blast marks yet another disruption to the border stability sought under the Kuala Lumpur peace accord signed on 26 October and witnessed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
During a press conference, Foreign-Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura described the explosion as a setback to the bilateral process and stated that Thailand had raised a formal protest with Phnom Penh via ministerial channels.
He added that the repatriation of 18 Cambodian prisoners of war, which was due to begin on 21 November under the accord, would be delayed until further clarity was achieved.
The ministry will also invoke the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty framework in its diplomatic engagement.
By calling the NSC meeting, the government is signalling that it may escalate its response across diplomatic, military and labour-permit channels.
Although Anutin withheld comment on Cambodia’s compliance or Thai military readiness, officials indicated that all options remain under review.
Observers say the situation now hinges not only on the mine incident itself but on how Thailand decides to press for the full implementation of the accord’s heavy-weapon withdrawals, de-mining, and criminal-network crack-down provisions.
Thailand emphasises that its current action is a suspension rather than a termination of the peace deal.
It has notified both the United States and Malaysia—who served as guarantors of the agreement—that it is “reserving its rights” while verifying facts.
The outcome of Tuesday’s NSC meeting is expected to define whether the bilateral pact resumes, is renegotiated, or becomes dormant under operational conditions.
When asked whether the peace declaration signed last month with Phnom Penh would be terminated, he replied: “It must be suspended for now, and there will be a process and procedure for that.”
The incident occurred during a Thai patrol near the Preah Vihear temple region and appears to be the latest in a string of mine-related explosions that have challenged the fragile truce.
The Thai army claims the mine was newly planted after barbed-wire defences were removed, an accusation denied by Cambodia.
The blast marks yet another disruption to the border stability sought under the Kuala Lumpur peace accord signed on 26 October and witnessed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
During a press conference, Foreign-Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura described the explosion as a setback to the bilateral process and stated that Thailand had raised a formal protest with Phnom Penh via ministerial channels.
He added that the repatriation of 18 Cambodian prisoners of war, which was due to begin on 21 November under the accord, would be delayed until further clarity was achieved.
The ministry will also invoke the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty framework in its diplomatic engagement.
By calling the NSC meeting, the government is signalling that it may escalate its response across diplomatic, military and labour-permit channels.
Although Anutin withheld comment on Cambodia’s compliance or Thai military readiness, officials indicated that all options remain under review.
Observers say the situation now hinges not only on the mine incident itself but on how Thailand decides to press for the full implementation of the accord’s heavy-weapon withdrawals, de-mining, and criminal-network crack-down provisions.
Thailand emphasises that its current action is a suspension rather than a termination of the peace deal.
It has notified both the United States and Malaysia—who served as guarantors of the agreement—that it is “reserving its rights” while verifying facts.
The outcome of Tuesday’s NSC meeting is expected to define whether the bilateral pact resumes, is renegotiated, or becomes dormant under operational conditions.
