Cambodia has urged Thailand to quickly resume negotiations over their disputed 800-kilometre border, a decades-old disagreement rooted in the French colonial era that escalated into deadly clashes in 2025.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on 11th April that he “strongly hopes” the two neighbours will work together “quickly and with sincerity,” adding: “This will be the foundation for long-lasting peace that would allow our people living along the shared border to live peacefully. Cambodia is fully ready.”
Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, speaking on the same day, said his country was not yet ready to resume talks despite a new government having just been formed. When asked about Cambodia’s renewed call for negotiations, he said Cambodia had the “right” to do so, but that Thailand had its “own procedures” to follow — including finalising its delegation to the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) before any meeting could occur. Sihasak indicated that talks proposed for mid-April would need to wait until those procedures were resolved.
The dispute flared into open conflict twice in 2025 — in July and again in December — resulting in over 100 deaths among military personnel and civilians, injuries in significant numbers, and the displacement of more than 500,000 people at peak periods. Affected communities spanned provinces including Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey on the Cambodian side and areas along Thailand’s northeastern border.
The two countries signed a ceasefire in late December 2025 calling for an immediate halt to military operations and commitments to de-escalation. Tensions persist nonetheless, with both sides trading accusations of truce violations. Cambodia claims Thai forces captured several areas in border provinces contrary to the agreement and has demanded their withdrawal.
Analysts attribute the underlying dispute to competing claims near ancient temple sites and unmarked border sections. The JBC mechanism, intended to advance demarcation, has faced delays due to differing priorities on each side.
Cambodia has emphasised readiness to proceed with joint survey and demarcation work under the December joint statement, with Hun Manet specifically highlighting Point 3 of that agreement, which addresses arrangements without prejudice to the international boundary. Thailand, meanwhile, maintains it must complete internal processes before advancing to bilateral discussions.
The border situation continues to affect local populations. International observers have raised concerns about access to services and landmine clearance in affected zones, and have called for sustained dialogue to prevent further escalation.
As of April 2026, no new date for JBC talks has been confirmed.
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