Thailand has resumed military strikes against Cambodia along their shared border, creating a direct contradiction to U.S. President Donald Trump's public declaration that the two nations had agreed to a ceasefire. The renewed fighting, which has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and caused numerous casualties, exposes the fragility of international mediation and the deep-seated historical tensions fueling one of Southeast Asia's most volatile territorial disputes.
The situation on the ground remains one of open hostility. On Saturday, the Royal Thai Air Force deployed F-16 fighter jets to conduct bombing raids on targets inside Cambodia, including a bridge and hotel buildings, according to Cambodian authorities. Thailand confirmed its military actions, stating they would continue "until we feel no more harm and threats to our land and people," as posted by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. In a significant escalation, Cambodia responded by shutting all border crossings with Thailand until further notice. These developments starkly contrast with the diplomatic narrative presented by President Trump, who stated he had "very good conversations" with both prime ministers and that they had "agreed to CEASE all shooting".
The current clashes represent the collapse of a peace process that President Trump had previously championed. A major conflict in July 2025, which included Thai airstrikes, the first such combat use of its air force in decades killed dozens and displaced over 200,000 before an unconditional ceasefire was brokered with U.S. and Malaysian assistance. This ceasefire was formalized in a ceremony in October. However, the truce was suspended by Thailand in November after several of its soldiers were wounded by landmines at the border, which it blamed on Cambodia. The fighting that erupted this week has been even more devastating, with over 500,000 people evacuated and at least 20 killed, including civilians.
The conflict stems from a border dispute dating back to the early 20th century. The current frontier is based on treaties between Siam (modern Thailand) and France in 1904 and 1907, which defined the boundary with French Indochina (which included Cambodia). However, maps produced by French surveyors contained ambiguities and deviations, particularly around ancient Hindu temple complexes in the Dangrek Mountains. The most famous of these is the Preah Vihear temple (Phra Viharn to Thais), which the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded to Cambodia in a 1962 ruling. The court's narrow legal decision did not fully resolve competing claims over the surrounding territory, leaving a persistent flashpoint. Disputes over other temples, like Prasat Ta Muen Thom, have also led to recent skirmishes.
The border crisis is deeply entangled with the domestic politics of both nations, particularly in Thailand. The current Thai Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, came to power in September 2025 following a political crisis partly triggered by the border conflict. His predecessor, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was suspended and later removed from office by the Constitutional Court. A key factor was the leak of a private phone call she had with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen about the border dispute, which led a major coalition party to withdraw from her government. For leaders in both Bangkok and Phnom Penh, taking a strong nationalist stance on the border has often been a tool to rally domestic support, even at the risk of escalating tensions. This political dimension complicates international peace efforts, as seen in Prime Minister Anutin's public defiance of ceasefire calls while managing a fragile government at home.