The conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, centred mainly on disputed border areas, including the ancient Preah Vihear temple, has lasted since the 1950s. In recent days tensions have flared again, leading to open armed clashes, including airstrikes carried out by Thailand.
Historical background of the dispute
The border dispute between Thailand (formerly Siam) and Cambodia dates back to the colonial era. The border was drawn on the basis of the Franco-Siamese treaties of 1904 and 1907, which set the dividing line along the watershed of the Dangrek Mountains. However, French maps from that period contained discrepancies, placing the Preah Vihear temple on the Cambodian side, which became a source of disagreement. Thailand argued that the temple, sitting on a cliff more easily accessible from the Thai side, should belong to it, while Cambodia stressed its cultural ties to the Khmer Empire.
In 1954, after the French withdrawal, Thai troops occupied Preah Vihear. Five years later Cambodia brought the case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. In 1962 the ICJ ruled in favour of Cambodia, ordering Thailand to withdraw its troops and return removed artefacts. The dispute subsided during Cambodia’s civil wars, but the border remained not fully demarcated.
Key events and escalations
The conflict flared up again in 2008, when Cambodia nominated Preah Vihear to UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. This triggered protests in Thailand, where the issue became part of an internal political crisis. Armed clashes followed, spreading to other areas, including the Prasat Ta Muen Thom and Prasat Ta Krabey temples. Fighting continued until 2011, causing casualties on both sides.
In 2013 the ICJ clarified its 1962 ruling, confirming that the promontory around the temple belongs to Cambodia, but did not settle the surrounding areas. There are also disputes over the continental shelf in the Gulf of Thailand, where both countries claim rights to natural resources. In 1997 a Joint Boundary Commission was established, but progress has been minimal.
Here is a map of the disputed border area:
Current escalation in 2025
Tensions erupted anew. The conflict intensified in May in the Emerald Triangle area, leading to open fighting in July. A ceasefire was agreed on 28 July, but it was broken on 8 December after a Thai soldier was killed in border clashes. Thailand accused Cambodia of deploying heavy weapons and shelling Thai territory, which led to airstrikes on Cambodian positions. According to Thailand’s defence minister, operations will continue until sovereignty is secured.
Cambodia, for its part, denies using heavy weapons and accuses Thailand of provocations and violating the ceasefire. The Cambodian government called for the dispute to be resolved through the ICJ and accused its neighbour of attacks on Cambodian forces. The fighting has caused the deaths of at least one Thai soldier and four Cambodian civilians, and thousands of people have fled from border villages.
International reaction and outlook
The international community, including the United States, has called for restraint. The US Embassy issued a warning against travel to the border region. The July ceasefire was negotiated with the involvement of the Trump administration, but its breach raises questions about the effectiveness of such initiatives. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stressed that his country does not want violence, but did not deny initiating the conflict.
The conflict threatens to destabilise the Southeast Asian region, affecting trade and security. Both sides call for dialogue, but without international mediation, escalation could deepen. A solution requires a clear demarcation of the border and cooperation, which has so far been difficult due to nationalist sentiment in both countries.
