4:30PM, December 31, 2025
Greetings to the general public and members of the press, this morning I would like to provide an update regarding the situation along the Cambodian-Thailand border following the ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand, which took effect at 12 noon on December 27, 2025. The situation in the 4th and 5th military regions remains calm as of 4pm this morning.
Meanwhile, our armed forces stand strong and are performing their duties with full vigilance in defending the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and are fully adhering to the ceasefire agreements by both Cambodia and Thailand.
At 10am on the morning of December 31, 2025, at the Prum International Point of Entry, Pailin Province, 18 Cambodian soldiers who had been detained by the Thai side for 155 days were released and safely returned to the motherland. The release of these soldiers was conducted in accordance with Point 11 of the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Thailand, signed on December 27, 2025. This provision stipulated the release following full compliance with the 72-hour ceasefire, which took effect at 12:00pm noon on December 27, 2025. The return of our 18 soldiers is under the observation of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
This release also aligns with the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration on the Peace Deal between Cambodia and Thailand, signed on October 26, 2025, between Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, and under the witness of His Excellency Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America, and His Excellency Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia.
The Royal Government of Cambodia, and particularly Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, has remained steadfast in the promise made to the families of the 18 soldiers and the Cambodian people: that no soldier would be left behind. To achieve today’s release and reunite these soldiers with their waiting families, the government utilized all available diplomatic channels and international humanitarian legal frameworks to ensure that our soldiers can be reunited with their beloved families, who have been waiting for them with such longing.
The Royal Government and the people of Cambodia express our deepest gratitude to all parties involved in the coordination processes that led to today’s successful return. Cambodia remains hopeful that this release will significantly contribute to building mutual trust and confidence. We believe this creates an environment conducive to peace, stability, and the full normalization of relations for the benefit of both nations and their people in the near future.
It is worth noting that the ceasefire has already received widespread support from the international community, echoing collective regional interest in peace. This prevailing stability reflects a shared desire not only between our two nations but across the international community to see peace, stability, and development restored to the region. We reiterate our unwavering position to resolve all issues in accordance with international law, the United Nations Charter, and the ASEAN Charter.
