A military truck carries a tank on a road amid deadly clashes between Thailand and Cambodia along a disputed border area, in Surin province, Thailand, on December 11, 2025. (Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha)
The Foreign Ministers (FMs) from Cambodia and Thailand have confirmed their attendance at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AFMM) in Kuala Lumpur on December 22, which have been hailed by Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, and observers as the first step towards de-escalation.
However, this is unlikely to fully stop the border conflict.
The conflict stems from unsolved demarcations around the Thai-Cambodian border, which both countries are reluctant to address even in peacetime due to the strong nationalist sentiment specifically along the disputed Preah Vihear Temple.
Historically, this has caused minor flare-ups periodically ccurring since 1962, with a major escalation in 2008 that lasted three years.
Since the December 8 escalation, political will to discuss the demarcations is non-existent, especially given the lack of external pressure—save from some symbolic condemnations—which were vital in the October 26 joint statement.
Furthermore, the Thai Foreign Ministry has outlined three conditions for a sustainable ceasefire prior to the meeting, which—being vague with wording like “Cambodia must show sincerity”—are hard to objectively assess.
Overall, the AFMM meeting appears to be more a symbolic gesture intended to project willingness toward a ceasefire than a genuine effort to achieve one.
Although it might lead to temporary ceasefire, without meaningful agreement on the disputed area, another clash is almost inevitable.
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