Officials from Thailand and Cambodia met on 14 Jun 2025 in Phnom Penh to address rising tensions along their shared border.
The meeting followed a deadly skirmish on 28 May 2025, in the Emerald Triangle, where troops exchanged gunfire and a Cambodian soldier was killed.
The two countries share an 820km border, with several sections remaining undemarcated since the French colonial era. Disputed areas include ancient temples and stretches of land, which have been flashpoints for years.
Military Buildup and Border Closures
According to Reuters, both nations deployed troops to the border after the May incident.
Thailand operates 17 official border crossings along the frontier, and in the days after the clash, 10 had their operations adjusted by Thai authorities.
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, visited the border on 11 June 2025, accompanied by ministers and military officials.
On 8 June 2025, Thailand and Cambodia confirmed that troops would return to positions agreed upon in 2024, aiming to reduce the risk of further incidents.
Both sides stated that their soldiers had acted in self-defence during the May 28 confrontation.
Thailand’s government warned of possible border closures and the suspension of electricity supplies to Cambodia.
In response, Cambodia announced it would stop buying Thai electricity, internet bandwidth, and produce, and ordered local broadcasters to stop airing Thai films.
International Court of Justice Involvement
On 15 June 2025, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that Cambodia had submitted an official letter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to seek a resolution on the dispute in four areas, including the site of the recent clash and three ancient temples.
Cambodia previously sought ICJ intervention over a border temple in the past, with the court ruling in Cambodia’s favour, though Thailand did not accept the court’s jurisdiction.
Ongoing Dialogue and Next Steps
Violence linked to the dispute has led to 28 deaths in the region since 2008. The Joint Boundary Commission meeting in Phnom Penh ended without a concrete resolution, but both countries agreed to continue talks, with Thailand set to host the next meeting in September 2025.
Both governments have also urged the public to be wary of misinformation and fake news circulating about the border situation, including false reports of border checkpoint closures.
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