Cambodia-Thailand conflict: Borders closed and truce collapses
In a significant development in Southeast Asia, the Cambodian government announced on Saturday the complete closure of all land border crossings with neighboring Thailand, amid the ongoing and escalating conflict between the two countries. This decision comes as a precautionary and decisive measure by Phnom Penh in response to what it described as continued attacks.
The Cambodian Ministry of the Interior issued an official statement confirming the Royal Government’s decision to suspend all entry and exit operations across all shared border points, noting that this decision is effective immediately and until further notice, reflecting the depth of the diplomatic and military crisis that relations between the two neighboring countries have reached.
Accusations of ceasefire violations and airstrikes
Despite international efforts to de-escalate the situation, Cambodia directly accused Thailand of continuing military operations and shelling its territory. These accusations came just hours after US President Donald Trump announced that the two countries had reached a ceasefire agreement, highlighting the fragility of the situation on the ground and the parties' lack of commitment to the outcomes of the political mediation.
In detailing the escalation on the ground, the Cambodian Ministry of Defense stated via the “X” platform that on December 13, 2025, the Thai army used two F-16 fighter jets to drop seven bombs on targets inside Cambodian territory, which it considered a blatant violation of sovereignty and a blow to the declared truce efforts.
The historical roots of the border conflict
This conflict is not a recent development, but rather an extension of a long history of border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, stretching over 800 kilometers. The most prominent points of contention stem from the dispute over the ancient Hindu temple of Preah Vihear, which the International Court of Justice ruled belonged to Cambodia in 1962, a decision reaffirmed in a subsequent ruling in 2013. However, the surrounding areas have remained a source of military and political conflict, witnessing deadly clashes, particularly between 2008 and 2011.
Humanitarian and economic repercussions
This escalation casts a dark shadow over the humanitarian situation in the region, with field reports indicating massive waves of displacement of civilians on both sides of the border, fleeing the exchange of fire and military operations. The number of displaced people is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands, placing immense pressure on aid organizations and local governments to provide shelter and food.
Economically, the closure of border crossings threatens the active intra-regional trade in the Greater Mekong region and deals a severe blow to the tourism sector, on which both countries rely heavily, potentially leading to significant economic losses if the crisis is prolonged.
