The simmering tensions between Thailand and Cambodia boiled into open conflict anew, forcing tens of thousands of civilians to flee and raising fears of a prolonged border crisis. These clashes represent the heaviest fighting since the two countries agreed to a US-backed ceasefire just months ago — an agreement that neither side had fully honored.
The two neighbours share an 800-kilometre land border, long marred by competing territorial claims. Their rivalry dates back to centuries but the modern flashpoint centres on a 1907 French colonial map which Cambodia said defines the border and Thailand insists is flawed.
In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled in favor of Cambodia, awarding it sovereignty over the disputed land next to historic temples. A reaffirmation in 2013 did little to assuage public anger in Thailand, and clashes between 2008 and 2011 were sporadic.
Those tensions flared anew this July, with five days of fighting that killed dozens and sent more than 100,000 civilians fleeing.
Fragile cease-fire that quickly collapsed
The United States, under President Donald Trump, wielded the leverage of crucial trade privileges to drive both sides to a ceasefire in July, while Malaysia later helped mediate a more detailed peace plan in October, which called for:
Removing heavy weapons from the border
Joint de-mining efforts
Restoring trust
A stop to propaganda and false information
But neither of the nations actually fully implemented this agreement. Both continued the bitter informational war, accusing each other of violations. Minor skirmishes continued, putting the frontier on edge.
That uneasy calm broke this week.
Latest fighting: airstrikes, artillery and rising casualties
The heaviest clashes since July erupted on Monday. Thailand conducted air strikes along the frontier, which it said were defensive actions against Cambodian artillery, rocket attacks and drone strikes. It was followed by ground combat across several sectors.
Which side fired first is not known
Senate President Hun Sen – still widely regarded as the most powerful figure in Cambodia – also pledged a “fierce fight” to defend national territory. In messages posted on his Facebook and Telegram accounts, he blamed Thailand for starting the fight and confirmed Cambodia had launched counterattacks overnight.
Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Cambodia had not contacted Bangkok for talks, and military operations would continue. “We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do,” he said.
Casualties of both sides are growing:
Cambodia: 7 Civilians Killed, 20 Wounded
Thailand says 3 soldiers have been killed in the renewed combat.
Thousands of families living near the border have fled to makeshift shelters. In Thailand’s Surin province alone, more than 3,600 evacuees are staying in a university hall. The Thai army estimates that across four provinces along the border, it has prepared nearly 500 temporary shelters for more than 125,000 people.
More than 55,000 people have been relocated from conflict areas on the Cambodian side.
The scenes are similar on both sides-families sleeping on mats, queuing up for meals, and braving cold nights with the shelling audibly echoing from across the frontier.
Sticking points: prisoners & landmines
Two problems have consistently undercut diplomacy.
- Prisoners
Cambodia accuses Thailand of refusing to release 18 Cambodian soldiers taken captive on the day the July ceasefire began. Thailand says they approached Thai positions in an aggressive manner – an allegation Phnom Penh denies.
2. Land mines.
Thailand accuses Cambodia of planting new land mines in disputed areas that maimed Thai soldiers; Cambodia insists that the mines were leftovers from its long civil war, which ended in 1999.
Earlier this month, Thailand stopped the implementation of its ceasefire commitments and demanded an apology over the mine blasts.
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Geopolitics adds more pressure
The revived dispute comes at a time when Washington is seeking to develop closer ties with Cambodia, in part as a hedge against Beijing’s influence. Phnom Penh has responded with an openness, moving more quickly toward a potential trade agreement with the US than Thailand, which has annoyed Bangkok.
Cambodia has also waged a high-octane online propaganda campaign portraying itself as the underdog, while Thai social media is awash with nationalistic messaging. Economic fallout likely. The fighting threatens to hit both economies, especially as the peak winter tourism season gets underway. Tourism is still essential for Thailand and Cambodia, both still recovering from the pandemic collapse. Trade tensions can escalate as Washington revisits its strategy toward engagement with Bangkok amid the flare-up in conflict.
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