Cambodia-Thailand Border Dispute Remains Unresolved One Year After Ceasefire

A ceasefire signed on December 27, 2025 ended the July 24, 2025 armed clash in which Thai F‑16 jets struck near the Preah Vihear temples, killing twelve Cambodians. Despite the truce, border crossings between Cambodia and Thailand remain largely closed, and roughly 900,000 migrant workers have been forced to return to Cambodia, deepening the economic strain on Phnom Penh.

Talks on the border’s demarcation have stalled. Cambodian Brigadier General Nith Narong has again demanded that Thailand halt unilateral construction, barbed‑wire deployment and land‑clearing near boundary markers 14 and 22 in Oddar Meanchey province. Thailand, under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul—who built his political legitimacy on a firm border stance—insists on addressing all outstanding issues at once, while Cambodia prefers a zone‑by‑zone approach. The Joint Boundary Commission remains deadlocked, and no substantive dialogue has emerged since the informal meeting on July 15, 2026.