Thailand completes first 1.3 km border fence segment with Cambodia

After weeks of armed clashes in 2025 that left nearly 150 people dead and forced about 300,000 residents to flee, Thailand has finished the pilot section of a permanent border fence with Cambodia. The 1.3 km stretch, built in the Chanthaburi province’s Pong Nam Ron district, consists of reinforced concrete panels topped with steel mesh and concertina wire. Thai Defence Forces chief General Ukrit Boontanon described the structure as “stable, strong and durable,” adding that the concrete plates have been test‑fired and can resist small‑arms fire.

Thai officials say the fence will initially be extended by roughly seven kilometres, with further assessments planned for other suitable locations along the 817‑km frontier. A continuous fence along the entire border is not envisaged; each segment will be evaluated individually, and provisional wire barriers will be used in areas where the border line remains disputed. Cambodia’s government has issued a cautious response, stating it does not object to a fence on Thai territory provided it is not erected in contested zones.

A fragile cease‑fire, in place since the end of December 2025, continues to hold, but troops remain deployed on both sides of the border.