Arya News - Thailand and Cambodia have resumed clashes along their disputed border, with at least five deaths on Monday, in a flare-up that undermines a ceasefire brokered by Donald Trump only six weeks ago.
Thailand and Cambodia have resumed clashes along their disputed border, with at least five deaths on Monday, in a flare-up that undermines a ceasefire brokered by Donald Trump only six weeks ago.
Both governments blame the other for the worst violence since July, when at least 48 people were killed and 300,000 forced from their homes.
The stand-off is ostensibly caused by differing interpretations of a colonial-era map delineating their shared border. Here’s everything you need to know about the conflict.
Why are Thailand and Cambodia fighting?
The long-running confrontation stems from differing interpretations of a 1907 French colonial map defining the 508-mile border, including areas around important Khmer-era temples such as Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom.
The ambiguity led to a 1962 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling awarding Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia, though Thailand continued to dispute adjacent land.
In 1962, it was ruled that the 11th-century temple Preah Vihear belonged to Cambodia - Chen Gang/Xinhua
Tensions resurfaced in 2008 when Cambodia sought Unesco World Heritage status for the site, sparking skirmishes that killed 20 people and displaced thousands. A second ICJ ruling in 2011 again favoured Cambodia, but did not settle all disputed zones, leaving the conflict unresolved.
“Neither side wants to be seen giving away an inch of territory,” said Phil Robertson, a Bangkok-based analyst, noting political risks attached to compromise.
What happened in July and why?
After several quiet years, the cycle of retaliation resumed in May 2024 when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a border skirmish. Relations worsened as both governments deployed more troops. In early July, three Thai soldiers were injured, one losing a foot, after a landmine explosion in contested territory.
Royal Thai Army armoured vehicles on a road in Chachoengsao province after Thailand launched air strikes on Cambodian military targets, July 2025 - LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA
Thailand accused Cambodia of newly deploying Russian-made mines, which Cambodia denied, insisting they were remnants of past conflicts. Days later, five more Thai soldiers were wounded by another blast.
Thailand responded by closing northeastern land crossings, expelling Cambodia’s ambassador, and withdrawing its envoy from Phnom Penh. Cambodia retaliated by expelling the Thai ambassador, downgrading diplomatic relations, banning Thai media, curbing imports of Thai products, and blocking some cross-border data and power links.
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On July 24, the conflict erupted into five days of fighting around the 1,000-year-old Prasat Ta Moan Thom temple. Both sides accused the other of firing first.
At least 48 people died, 300,000 were displaced, and thousands of Cambodian migrant workers fled home. Nationalist sentiment surged — Thai flags proliferated in Bangkok, while Cambodian officials invoked historic grievances.
How was Trump involved in the ceasefire?
The July conflict halted partly after President Trump threatened to withdraw the US from key tariff negotiations unless both countries agreed to stop fighting.
China also intervened diplomatically. In late October, Mr Trump oversaw the signing of a ceasefire in Malaysia during the ASEAN summit. The deal, negotiated mainly by Malaysia, required withdrawal of heavy weapons, release of Cambodian POWs, and demining of border areas, monitored by ASEAN observers. Cambodia even nominated Mr Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize.
But analysts warned the agreement avoided the core issue: unresolved demarcation disputes rooted in colonial-era maps.
Anwar Ibrahim, the prime minister of Malaysia, applauds as Donald Trump, Hun Manet and Anutin Charnvirakul hold up a signed peace deal - Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
“The ceasefire did not address the core issue,” said Tita Sanglee, a Bangkok-based associate fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute think tank.
“But to be fair to Trump, the Thai-Cambodian dispute is rooted in ambiguous colonial-era demarcation, which is something extremely complex and needs to be dealt with over the long term, and would only work if both sides are genuinely willing to make significant compromises.”
Mu Sochua, the head of the opposition Khmer Movement for Democracy, told the Telegraph: “The ceasefire was meant to set the stage for President Trump to get a nomination and a chance for the Nobel peace prize, it’s so clear.
“But the conflict with Cambodia and Thailand is a conflict that goes back centuries. You can’t just pull out two boxers away from each other and say stop fighting – they’re still in the ring.”
Why did Thailand strike Cambodia’s border on Monday?
Despite the October deal, tensions continued simmering. On Nov 10, a Thai soldier was wounded by a landmine, leading Bangkok to suspend de-escalation measures. Thailand again accused Cambodia of laying new mines; Cambodia again denied it. Mr Trump has reportedly phoned both governments urging adherence to the agreement.
Small clashes continued, but heavy fighting erupted before dawn on Monday across five locations along the border. Thailand says one soldier has been killed and eight wounded, and 50,000 people evacuated. Cambodia says four civilians died, with villages near the border evacuated.
Thailand’s army chief of staff said the military aims to cripple Cambodia’s military capability to neutralise longer-term threats. Thailand’s forces are considerably larger and better equipped. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said: “Thailand has never wished for violence. I’d like to reiterate that Thailand has never initiated a fight or an invasion, but will never tolerate a violation of its sovereignty.”
Hun Sen, Cambodia’s former prime minister, urged restraint while accusing Thailand of trying to provoke retaliation. “The red line for responding has already been set. I urge commanders at all levels to educate all officers and soldiers accordingly.”
How has politics inflamed the situation?
Domestic politics have repeatedly sharpened the dispute. In Thailand, conservative critics attacked a government plan to negotiate joint exploration of offshore energy resources with Cambodia, stoking nationalist anger, particularly after Thai soldiers were injured in May.
Relations between powerful families also played a role. Former Thai prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended after leaked audio revealed her privately criticising Thailand’s military and deferentially addressing Hun Sen as “uncle.”
Anwar Ibrahim, the Malaysian prime minister, (centre) mediated the ceasefire between his Thai (right) and Cambodian (left) counterparts in July - Mohd Rasfan/Shutterstock
She was later ousted by the constitutional court, weakening her family’s political influence. Her removal helped clear the path for Anutin, aligned with Thailand’s conservative military establishment, to become prime minister. With elections expected early next year, analysts say his government is unlikely to show softness on territorial issues.
“It’s important to understand that the underlying territorial contestation is very real, but the theatrical aspect is equally pronounced,” said Ms Sanglee. “And, for many, that latter aspect is getting increasingly difficult to ignore.”
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