The prime minister of Cambodia says Thai forces continue to occupy Cambodian territory even after a ceasefire deal brokered by former U.S. President Donald Trump raising fresh tensions in the long‑running border dispute between the two Southeast Asian neighbors.
In an interview with Reuters in Washington Prime Minister Hun Manet accused Thailand of keeping troops and military gear deep inside areas internationally recognized as Cambodian land. He said shipping containers and barbed wire have been placed in contested zones blocking civilians from returning home and representing a violation of Cambodian sovereignty.
Hun Manet urged Bangkok to allow a joint boundary commission to begin demarcation work a technical step he says is essential to clearly establish the border and prevent further disputes. He described the situation along the frontier as “fragile” despite the December ceasefire that brought an end to renewed fighting last year.
The peace accord had followed the worst clashes in more than a decade which began in July and displaced hundreds of thousands of people while disrupting trade along the roughly 508‑mile (817‑kilometre) frontier.
Thailand has denied that its troops are occupying Cambodian territory saying its forces are holding positions as part of ongoing de‑escalation measures and defending its own claims on the disputed land.
Hun Manet who attended a meeting of Trump’s new Board of Peace in Washington this week said he hopes the body could help de‑escalate tensions but warned that unless the border issue is resolved technically and diplomatically there is a risk the conflict could flare up again.
The Cambodia‑Thailand border dispute has become not only a local flashpoint but also part of broader regional dynamics with leadership changes and domestic politics in both capitals shaping how the contested territory is managed going forward.
