Thailand has accused Cambodia of "deliberately" violating a ceasefire agreement established just hours earlier to quell border skirmishes that have resulted in the death of at least 33 individuals and displaced thousands. This fragile agreement was intended to halt ongoing military actions along their contested border, which has seen intense shelling and gunfire for several days. The Thai military claims it ceased all firing after midnight but still encountered gunfire from Cambodia "at multiple locations" early in the morning. In contrast, Cambodia's Ministry of Defense has firmly stated there had been "no armed clashes" since the ceasefire took effect.
Delays in the planned meeting between local military commanders to discuss ceasefire terms have raised further concerns, pushing the possibility of productive dialogue into doubt. The roots of the conflict trace back to historical border disputes that intensified following the death of a Cambodian soldier during a skirmish in May. Tensions escalated further when five Thai soldiers were injured due to a landmine explosion, prompting Thailand to shut down several border crossings and expatriate the Cambodian ambassador from Bangkok.
Following an exchange of fire, including rocket strikes from Cambodia that resulted in civilian casualties in Thailand, the situation deteriorated, with both nations suffering further losses. The period leading up to the ceasefire was marked by heavy bombardment from both sides until the midnight deadline on Monday. In a statement made shortly after the ceasefire began, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet suggested that the "frontlines have eased," presenting a stark contrast to Thailand's claims of continued hostilities.
Negotiations to reach the ceasefire were aided by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim after heightened international interventions, including pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding trade tariffs. Additionally, the border dispute has historical ties dating back over a century to the colonial era, with recent escalations arising after Cambodia's attempt to designate a historical site as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008, spurring protests from Thailand.
Over the last two months, relations have worsened, leading to mutual border restrictions, with Cambodia halting imports from Thailand and both countries concentrating military forces along the shared frontier.
