Tenuous truce persists between Thailand and Cambodia amidst allegations - Tenuous truce persists between Thailand and Cambodia amidst allegations of wrongdoing
The ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, agreed upon in peace talks in Putrajaya, came into effect at midnight on July 28, 2025. However, the fragile truce remains challenged by ongoing violations, according to the Royal Thai Army.
Thailand claims to have fully abided by the ceasefire, suspending military activities and aiming to foster peace and trust. Yet, it has reported multiple ceasefire breaches by Cambodian forces, including small arms fire, use of mortars, and incursions into Thai territory in several border areas, leading to Thai self-defensive responses.
Cambodian defense ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata dismissed the accusations made by Thailand. She stated that there have been no armed clashes in any region. However, the Thai army spokesman, Winthai Suwaree, stated that Cambodian forces launched armed attacks on several areas within Thai territory.
The clashes occur in the area where the Thai province of Surin and the Cambodian province of Oddar Meanchey border each other, as well as the neighboring country of Laos. As a result, almost 300,000 people have fled their villages due to the latest fighting, with 138,000 on the Thai side and 140,000 on the Cambodian side of the border.
At least 38 people have been killed in the recent fighting, with 11 soldiers and 14 civilians dead on the Thai side, according to Bangkok, and 8 civilians and 5 soldiers dead on the Cambodian side, according to Phnom Penh.
The military chiefs of both Thailand and Cambodia met on Tuesday, as per the agreement. The joint border commission of the rival neighbors was scheduled to meet in Cambodia on the following Monday, as per the agreement. The ceasefire was seen as a significant step toward resolving the border conflict, but recent incidents indicate that tensions and violations continue to challenge its full implementation.
Despite the ongoing violations, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that the situation at the border has eased since the ceasefire at midnight. The ceasefire was agreed upon after diplomatic efforts involving external parties such as the United States and China, with optimism expressed by leaders and affected villagers about returning to peaceful conditions and resuming normal life.
Thailand, however, accuses Cambodia of breaching the agreement and attempting to undermine mutual trust. The Thai army spokesman, Winthai Suwaree, stated that Thailand is forced to respond accordingly and exercise its legitimate right to self-defense.
The clashes are the latest escalation in a decades-long dispute over border demarcation in the Emerald Triangle. The fighting broke out on Thursday, marking a concerning development in the region's efforts to achieve lasting peace.
[1] Royal Thai Army Press Release, July 30, 2025. [2] Cambodian Ministry of Defense Press Release, July 30, 2025.
- The Commission, with its expertise in politics and general news, has also been consulted on the draft resolution regarding the ongoing war-and-conflicts in the Middle East, specifically the situation in the border areas between Thailand and Cambodia.
- The fragile ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, often a topic of international politics and general news, remains challenged by ongoing violations, leading to calls for further diplomatic efforts to resolve the longstanding border conflict in the Middle East's Emerald Triangle.
