Mines, Memory, and Mistrust: Renewed Tensions between Phnom Penh and Bangkok

The episode could have remained a localized incident in a mountainous area still marked by the scars of war. But it took a major political turn. By deciding to suspend a series of security cooperation agreements with Cambodia, Thailand has rekindled border sensitivities. Phnom Penh, for its part, firmly rejects any responsibility in the explosion of a landmine that supposedly injured several Thai soldiers near the Preah Vihear temple, a highly sensitive symbol of the common border.

A firm protest from Cambodia

In an official statement released Monday, the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation expressed its "deep concern" following reports that Bangkok had frozen the implementation of the Joint Declaration signed on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit, held in Kuala Lumpur on October 26. This agreement, praised by several chancelleries, aimed to stabilize relations between the two neighbors after several months of incidents along the northwestern border.

Phnom Penh categorically denies allegations that Cambodian troops recently placed new mines in the Phnom Trop mountain area.

The statement asserts that most of the explosives still present in the area come from the "decades of armed conflict" that devastated Cambodia during the 1970s and 1980s. "The Royal Government of Cambodia firmly rejects any accusation that it has conducted new mining," the text specifies, recalling the country's adherence to the Ottawa Convention and its ongoing commitment to humanitarian demining operations.

The Cambodian government considers the suspension decided by Thailand to be "unjustified and contrary to the spirit of regional cooperation." Phnom Penh also said it was surprised by the speed with which Bangkok linked the supposed incident to the suspension of the planned November 12 release of eighteen Cambodian soldiers detained for several months.

Bangkok invokes security and caution

The Thai viewpoint relies on security considerations. According to a statement from the Royal Thai Army published Sunday, an explosion occurred in Sisaket Province, near the immediate border line, seriously injuring one soldier and lightly wounding another. For military authorities, this incident calls into question the effectiveness of bilateral coordination on border security.

Siripong Angkasakulkiat, spokesperson for the Thai government, confirmed to various media, including AFP, the decision to temporarily suspend the implementation of the joint declaration signed in October. "This is a precautionary measure aimed at assessing the situation before any resumption of field dialogue," he reportedly said, mentioning a "duty to protect the armed forces and local populations."

According to several observers in Bangkok, this position also reflects internal pressures. The Thai government, faced with increasingly vehement national opposition on sovereignty issues, seeks to demonstrate vigilance in the face of any potential threat to territorial integrity. The Cambodian border, especially around the Preah Vihear site, remains a highly symbolic issue for part of the Thai public opinion.

The weight of the past and incomplete maps

The dispute over the Preah Vihear temple is not new. In 1962 already, the International Court of Justice had awarded sovereignty of the site to Cambodia, while leaving the delimitation of the surrounding area open to interpretation.

Since then, each incident, contested mapping, or military operation in this mountainous region revives memories of an unfinished territorial sharing.

Unlike Cambodia, Thailand is not a signatory to the Ottawa Convention prohibiting the use of anti-personnel mines. This legal asymmetry creates an atmosphere of suspicion. Phnom Penh regularly reminds that it destroyed the major part of its stocks since 2011 and that its demining efforts, supported by several Western NGOs, continue despite difficult terrain. Bangkok, for its part, considers that part of the territory remains riddled with devices whose exact origin remains uncertain.

The Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) recently indicated that more than 70% of the risk zones identified in Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces had been secured, but isolated pockets remained "deeply contaminated."

This technical reality complicates the political discourse: each explosion can be interpreted politically, fueling a mutual blame game that diplomacy struggles to ease.

Diplomacy thwarted within ASEAN

The suspension decision announced by Thailand comes at a delicate moment for ASEAN, whose principle of non-interference is being tested by bilateral disputes. The agreement signed in Kuala Lumpur, under the eyes of US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, symbolized a turning point toward more pragmatic regional cooperation on border and security issues.

Its pause risks sending a harmful signal, especially in a context where several member states seek to consolidate regional stability amid increasing maritime and economic tensions. Malaysian and Singaporean diplomats reportedly already called on Bangkok and Phnom Penh to quickly resume dialogue to avoid a lasting deterioration of mutual trust.

Regional analysts believe Thailand mainly seeks to buy time and calm internal opinion. "This is not a strategic break but a calculated political gesture," says Thai academic Chulaporn Thepsiri, a specialist in border affairs. "Bangkok wants to maintain a security margin without compromising the diplomatic framework established in Kuala Lumpur."

A border that remains to be appeased

In Phnom Penh, the government insists on the continuity of the dialogue. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assures that "Cambodia remains fully committed to finding a peaceful and lasting solution to any border issue." Behind the scenes, several Cambodian military officials emphasize the need to revive joint demining and delimitation committees.

Still, the relationship between the two kingdoms is fragile, built on a balance of strategic caution, national pride, and historical mistrust. The memory of Preah Vihear — both a sanctuary and a symbol of sovereignty — continues to dominate the collective imagination, reminding that any spark in this region can rekindle the embers of a dispute never completely extinguished.