The December 2025 ceasefire, agreed by the Cambodian and Thai governments to stop fighting along their land border, appears to be holding. While a ceasefire is welcome, it is no substitute for real peace. Real peace would allow the borders to open and trade, travel, and tourism to resume. I remember making my way along the highways from Bangkok to Siem Reap. That couldn't be done today.
A ceasefire means people are not being killed and homes and infrastructure are not being destroyed. But failing to wage peace carries ongoing costs. Students who previously attended schools near the border are prohibited from doing so because of the threat of renewed violence and the earlier destruction of facilities. Before the fighting started, approximately 1.2 million Cambodians were employed in Thailand. The vast majority of these migrant workers have returned home, likely facing lower income prospects. On the Thai side, the shortage of these workers will put pressure on construction and agricultural costs.
