Reader Mail: Can We Request a UN Peacekeepers Intervention in Cambodia?

To answer a question posed by a reader, here are a few clarifications about the possibility and unlikelihood of seeing UN peacekeepers (Blue Helmets) in Cambodia. As a reminder, the border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, revived in 2025, pits the two neighbors in a deadly escalation marked by artillery fire, air strikes, and thousands of displaced people.

Despite fragile ceasefires and mediations such as that of U.S. President Donald Trump, hostilities persist, with at least 26 deaths in one week at the end of 2025 and total border closures. A UN peacekeepers intervention appears unlikely without a rare alignment of geopolitical and legal conditions.

Historical Roots and Current Escalation

The dispute dates back to the 1907 Franco-Siamese Treaty and the 1962 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision awarding Preah Vihear to Cambodia, although adjacent areas remain contested. The 2008-2011 clashes left dozens dead; in 2025 fighting resumed violently in July with Cambodian BM-21 rockets and Thai F-16s, causing massive civilian harm and 134,707 displaced people in Cambodia.

The UN Secretary-General expressed concern on 7 December 2025, but did not propose a concrete peacekeeping mission.

Conditions Required for a UN Intervention

UN peacekeepers require a Security Council resolution under Chapter VI or VII of the UN Charter, typically involving:

• a signed ceasefire by the parties,

• consent from both parties to a peacekeeping deployment.

In this case, no bilateral agreement exists, despite unsuccessful Malaysian-led talks. For peacekeepers to be deployed to monitor the border or protect civilians, both Phnom Penh and Bangkok would need to jointly request such a force. The process would also include:

• a technical assessment,

• a precise mandate (such as disarmament or demining),

• and the identification of contributing countries like India or Bangladesh — a process that could take months.

Geopolitical Obstacles and ASEAN Regionalism

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) favors bilateral solutions and non-interference, making an escalation to an UN response unlikely. Moreover, China (a Cambodia ally) and the United States (close to Thailand) could each exercise vetoes in the Security Council. Historically, the UN intervened in Cambodia in 1992-1993 with UNTAC for civil war, but this was not a bilateral border dispute. No serious proposal for peacekeepers has emerged in 2025, despite appeals.

The presence of recently laid antipersonnel mines — possibly in violation of the Ottawa Treaty — complicates deployment without clear authorization.

Outlook: Fragile Peace Without Blue Helmets

Without unified political will from both governments — weakened by Thai nationalism and internal tensions in Bangkok — peacekeepers remain a theoretical option. Diplomatic avenues such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or regional mediators are more likely paths forward.

A major escalation threatening regional stability might force the Security Council’s hand, but past fragile ceasefires suggest a slow, difficult diplomatic solution rather than rapid deployment of UN peacekeepers.