Situation as of 25 July 2025: The border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia

Following a rapid and unexpected escalation, the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia reached a dramatic peak on 25 July 2025. Artillery fire lit up the sky once again, as fear and the sound of weapons dominated the daily lives of more than 138,000 displaced civilians on the Thai side and thousands more Cambodians fleeing border villages.

In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of the situation, drawing on official statements, local accounts, economic analyses and investigations from leading Thai and Cambodian media outlets and newspapers.

Chronology and nature of the clashes

Resumption of hostilities

Since the morning of Thursday 24 July 2025, artillery fire, shells and rockets have been heard in the 800 km-long border area between Thailand and Cambodia. The fighting, which is unusually intense – the worst since 2011 – has engulfed several towns: Ta Muen Thom, Samraong, the provinces of Surin and Sisaket on the Thai side, and Oddar Meanchey on the Cambodian side. This outbreak of violence follows a rise in tensions since the death of a Khmer soldier during a night-time skirmish on the border at the end of May, exacerbating a centuries-old territorial dispute inherited from the French Indochina era.

Human toll and military mobilisation

The clashes have left 14 civilians and one soldier dead in Thailand, while Cambodia has reported one death and five wounded, according to official figures released this morning by the two governments. On the ground, the armies are deploying tanks, ground troops and BM-21 rockets, and Thailand has deployed at least six F-16 fighter jets against Cambodian military positions deemed hostile. The population, particularly in border towns such as Samraong, is fleeing in panic, abandoning their homes and possessions to seek refuge in temples, schools and hastily set up reception centres. On the Thai side, more than 138,000 people have been evacuated and housed in 300 centres.

Territorial disputes and diplomatic escalation

Origins of the dispute

The dispute concerns several areas adjacent to famous Khmer temples (Preah Vihear, Ta Muen Thom), symbols of national pride and historical wounds. While the International Court of Justice (ICJ) remains the recognised authority for Cambodia, which has filed new appeals for four disputed areas, Thailand refuses to accept its arbitration and prefers bilateral negotiations. The recent failure of the Joint Commission on the Demarcation of the Land Boundary (JCDL) has highlighted the continuing deadlock.

Break in diplomatic relations

Diplomatic tensions have materialised in a series of dramatic measures: the recall of ambassadors, the expulsion of diplomats and the reduction of economic and consular exchanges. Dialogue is continuing under the auspices of Malaysia, which currently chairs ASEAN, but so far no breakthrough has been achieved ahead of the emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council requested by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.

Official statements: rhetoric and mutual accusations

Cambodia

Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia, strongly denounced the ‘Thai incursion’ and insisted on respect for national sovereignty, seeking to legitimise his army's actions by invoking the right to self-defence under international law.

 Cambodian Defence Ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata said that ‘the Thai army has violated Cambodia's territorial integrity,’ adding that ‘the Cambodian armed forces are exercising their legitimate right to repel aggression, in accordance with the United Nations Charter.’ Hun Manet also reiterated to the press his desire to preserve peace and called for international mediation to find a legal and peaceful resolution.

Thailand

Thailand's interim Prime Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, spoke in urgent tones: ‘We have tried to find a compromise because we are neighbours, but we have instructed the Thai army to act immediately in case of emergency. If the situation worsens, it could turn into a war.’ The Thai Ministry of Defence, for its part, accuses Cambodia of opening fire first and targeting civilian infrastructure, such as a hospital and a petrol station, while strongly denying any violation of Cambodian territorial integrity. Thailand nevertheless says it is open to mediation and dialogue, including through Malaysia or ASEAN, but says it has received ‘no concrete response to date.’

The international community

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called for an ‘immediate ceasefire’, citing ‘positive signals’ but urging calm and a resumption of diplomatic talks. The United States, China, France and the European Union also call for restraint, highlighting the risk of regional unrest and the fragility of ASEAN. The Chinese Foreign Minister stresses the need to address the issue in light of its colonial legacy, calling for a peaceful resolution.

Eyewitness accounts and the atmosphere on the ground

Fear and chaos in the border areas

In Samraong, a Cambodian town 20 km from the border, journalists report that families are fleeing in panic, cramming their children and belongings into whatever they can find to escape the gunfire. ‘I couldn't take everything with me. I'm worried about my children: they're scared, they heard the explosions,’ said Salou Chan, now a refugee with his family in a local temple.

Similar scenes can be found on the Thai side, where temporary shelters are filled with families in shock, some of whom have been separated. Schools, temples and gymnasiums have been turned into emergency shelters, a scene reminiscent of dark historical precedents.

Direct economic consequences and threats to the region

Border trade collapses

Cross-border trade, estimated at nearly 67 billion baht in the first four months of 2025, has come to a virtual standstill. Thailand has imposed the closure of numerous border crossings, blocking the transit of goods and tourist flows and drastically restricting the movement of Cambodian migrant workers, 500,000 of whom are employed in key sectors of the Thai economy.

 Businesses on both sides are seeing a sharp drop in turnover, with border markets operating at a slow pace or even deserted. Cambodia has responded with significant retaliatory measures: reducing its imports of Thai electricity and fuel, temporarily banning Thai agricultural products from its territory, and restricting access to certain Thai internet services.

This poses a major risk to its own energy security and price stability, as around 30% of Cambodia's domestic fuel comes from Thailand.

Impact on daily life and the labour market

The closure of the borders is stifling the labour market, particularly for Cambodians working in Thailand. Rural and urban businesses in both Thailand and Cambodia are concerned about supply disruptions, job losses and the very survival of the local economy. Transport services, hotels, tourism and retail businesses are reporting record losses. At the border, Cambodian casinos, which depend on Thai visitors, have been deserted, putting Cambodian workers out of work and exacerbating precariousness.

Tourism and infrastructure at risk

The collapse of tourism, a vital sector for border areas, is dramatic: visitor numbers are plummeting, affecting all local economic circuits. Some infrastructure projects, such as the railway link between Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, and the Thai Eastern Economic Corridor, could face significant delays due to the deteriorating business climate and loss of investor confidence.

Regional economic instability

The short-term losses are already enormous, but many experts believe that the major risk lies in a prolonged worsening of the crisis: disrupted supply chains, inflation, capital flight, economic decline in mainland Indochina and weakened regional integration, particularly within ASEAN.

Outlook and scenarios

Escalation or dialogue?

The situation remains volatile, with the border continuing to be the scene of sporadic clashes and an unprecedented mobilisation of modern armed forces. While both governments have publicly stated their willingness to prioritise mediation, the reality on the ground shows that each side holds the other responsible for the escalation, which is undermining immediate peace efforts.

External factors

The growing involvement of regional and international powers – China, the United States, France and the European Union – could play a key role in arbitration and de-escalation, provided that both states agree to mediation. The emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, requested by Phnom Penh, will be indicative of the diplomatic follow-up.

The immediacy and severity of the conflict reveal the deep fragility of the progress made in recent years between Thailand and Cambodia. While thousands of families face forced exile, uncertainty, fear and loss of income, the entire region is holding its breath.

Resolution, whether robust or elusive, will require not only renewed political will, but also multilateral mediation and the mobilisation of civil society to restore trust, security and prosperity at the border.