Thailand has escalated its security measures by imposing a curfew and martial law in border districts, directly contradicting U.S. President Donald Trump's public declaration of a renewed ceasefire and signaling an intensification of the conflict with Cambodia. The curfew, effective from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., covers five districts in the southeastern Trat province adjacent to Cambodia's Koh Kong province, though excludes major tourist islands . This move came alongside the Thai military's announcement that it had recaptured areas in Trat and destroyed a bridge used by Cambodia to supply heavy weapons, with fighting spreading to coastal regions for the first time.
The security crackdown follows President Trump's claim on Friday that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Premier Hun Manet had agreed in phone calls to "cease all shooting" and return to a July peace accord. However, Thai officials have explicitly denied that any such bilateral agreement was reached. Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow stated that Trump's remarks did not reflect an accurate understanding of the situation, while Defense Ministry spokesman Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri asserted that clashes had continued uninterrupted. Prime Minister Anutin reiterated that Thailand would keep fighting "until we feel no more harm and threats to our land and people," placing the onus for peace on Cambodia by demanding it cease hostility and show it had withdrawn forces and removed landmines before negotiations could begin.
The military situation remains active and severe. Thailand has conducted airstrikes using F-16 jets inside Cambodia, targeting what it describes as military facilities and long-range artillery to degrade Cambodia's military capacity. Cambodia has responded with barrages of BM-21 Grad rockets and accused Thailand of striking civilian infrastructure, including hotel buildings and a bridge. The human cost is mounting significantly, with at least 34 people killed since the latest fighting began on December 8. Casualty reports indicate 16 Thai soldiers and 7 Thai civilians dead, alongside 11 Cambodian civilian fatalities. The conflict has triggered a massive humanitarian crisis, displacing approximately 700,000 people on both sides of the border as entire communities flee the violence.
This latest violent chapter is part of a long-running and deeply rooted border dispute. The current conflict was reignited by a skirmish in May 2025 that killed a Cambodian soldier, leading to months of tension and retaliation, including trade bans and border closures. The core of the dispute stems from competing claims over ancient temple complexes and surrounding lands, particularly the Temple of Preah Vihear, which the International Court of Justice awarded to Cambodia in 1962. The border itself, based on a 1907 treaty between Siam and France, is contested and has been a flashpoint for over a century, fueled by nationalist sentiments and historical enmity.
International mediation efforts have thus far failed to secure a lasting peace. While the United States, China, and Malaysia brokered a ceasefire in July after five days of intense fighting that killed 48 people, the truce proved fragile. Thailand suspended the agreement in November following landmine incidents that wounded its soldiers. In response to the continued fighting, Cambodia has shut all its border crossings with Thailand, stranding migrant workers. Regional leaders, including Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and proposed deploying an ASEAN observer team to monitor the situation, but Thailand has denied agreeing to the proposed ceasefire timeline.