The Thailand-Cambodia border conflict has entered its most dangerous phase in over a decade, with weeks of fighting prompting urgent ceasefire talks in Malaysia.
The dispute is rooted in colonial-era agreements- particularly the Franco‑Siamese treaty of 1907- which sought to define the border between French Indochina and Siam (now Thailand). Poorly drawn maps and vague descriptions left certain areas, notably around the Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom temples, open to competing interpretations. In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded Preah Vihear itself to Cambodia, but the surrounding land remained disputed. Skirmishes have broken out intermittently since 2008, flaring again in 2011, and now escalating dramatically in 2025.
This year’s tensions reignited in late May after a Cambodian soldier was killed by a landmine near the Emerald Triangle, a sensitive zone where both armies patrol. The incident followed decades of mistrust over the use of landmines in the border region. Despite commitments under international conventions, both sides have previously accused each other of failing to fully clear minefields. When a Thai patrol in Ubon Ratchathani province struck PMN‑2 anti-personnel mines in July, injuring several soldiers, Bangkok blamed Cambodia. Phnom Penh denied fresh mining activity, and each side accused the other of provocation.
The situation deteriorated sharply on 24 July. Fighting spread along at least a dozen border locations, with artillery, rocket fire, and airstrikes displacing more than 260,000 civilians. At least 35 people have been killed so far, including both soldiers and non-combatants. Thai forces launched F‑16 airstrikes and deployed cluster munitions, claiming Cambodian rockets had targeted civilian areas. Cambodia, for its part, used heavy artillery and multi-barrel rocket launchers, accusing Thailand of deliberately endangering heritage sites and population centres.
The damage to civilian areas has been significant. Villages on both sides of the border have been struck, and UNESCO World Heritage sites have not been spared. Reports from the Preah Vihear complex describe damage from artillery fire, raising fears for the preservation of its historic structures. Humanitarian organisations warn that displaced families face shortages of food, shelter, and medical care as the fighting continues.
Under mounting international pressure- particularly from the United States, which hinted at trade repercussions- both governments agreed to emergency ceasefire talks in Kuala Lumpur. Cambodia has called for an “immediate, unconditional ceasefire.” Thailand has publicly expressed willingness to negotiate, but questions Cambodia’s sincerity, citing recent military actions and what Bangkok describes as a lack of credible commitment to de‑escalation.
The political climate in both capitals has done little to ease tensions. In Thailand, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended from office following a scandal involving a leaked phone call in which she referred to former Cambodian leader Hun Sen as “uncle.” In Cambodia, Prime Minister Hun Manet faces mounting nationalist pressure to defend territorial integrity and resist perceived Thai encroachment.
For now, negotiations in Malaysia represent the best chance to halt the violence. Yet the path to lasting peace remains fraught. The Thailand-Cambodia border conflict has defied resolution for more than a century, and without mutual trust and credible guarantees, the risk of renewed escalation will remain high.
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