PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA – Cambodia has begun withdrawing heavy weapons from the disputed border zone with Thailand, in what officials described as a historic step toward ending months of military tension and restoring long‑term regional stability.
Monitored pullback follows peace accord
The withdrawal started on Sunday evening, 26 October 2025, according to local outlet Fresh News. Artillery and armored equipment were removed from positions along the contested frontier under the close supervision of the ASEAN Observation Team (AOT). The observers are tasked with ensuring that both nations comply fully with the terms of a newly signed peace accord.
The disarmament process took place just hours after Cambodia and Thailand concluded the Cambodia‑Thailand Peace Agreement in Kuala Lumpur. The signing ceremony was witnessed by U.S. President Donald Trump and the Malaysian prime minister, who currently holds the rotating ASEAN chairmanship. Their presence underscored the importance regional and global actors attach to resolving the border dispute.
End of six months of heightened tensions
The agreement followed nearly six months of heightened tension, which saw a brief but serious five‑day armed clash in July. Since then, both governments had engaged in intensive negotiations that appeared to gain momentum in recent weeks. The formal accord now paves the way for restored diplomatic relations and a gradual rebuilding of trust between the two neighbours.
Analysts view the development as a vital turning point for Southeast Asia, a region where historical boundary conflicts have periodically threatened economic ties and cross‑border cooperation. Officials from both sides expressed confidence that this new phase would promote stability and prosperity along the frontier.
Commitment to lasting peace
The Cambodian government reaffirmed its determination to implement the peace agreement fully and sincerely. Phnom Penh also pledged closer coordination with Thai authorities and other regional partners to ensure the settlement delivers tangible benefits to people living in both countries’ border provinces.
The withdrawal itself had been anticipated after both parties reported substantive progress in recent negotiation rounds. The current pullback is viewed as the logical next step in their diplomatic rapprochement and an essential confidence‑building measure.
Next steps and challenges ahead
While the disarmament marks a crucial milestone, diplomats cautioned that it represents only the beginning of a longer process. In coming weeks, attention will shift to the agreed release of 18 Cambodian prisoners of war held in Thailand—another gesture seen as key to consolidating mutual trust.
The ASEAN community will continue monitoring how both governments implement the accord amid expectations that the settlement could serve as a model for peaceful dispute resolution in the region. For now, international observers remain cautiously optimistic that the withdrawal of weapons could signal an enduring peace along one of Southeast Asia’s most sensitive borders.