November 19, 2025

Thailand–Cambodia Border Agreement on Shaky Ground

By: Ryan Claffey

This article was originally published on the East Asia Forum.

On 26 October 2025, US President Donald Trump presided over Cambodia and Thailand’s signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord — a joint declaration expanding the 28 July ceasefire, which halted the bloodiest Thailand–Cambodia border conflict in over a decade. Yet on 11 November, the Thai National Security Council approved a temporary suspension of the accord, suggesting that a more permanent peace will require more than just a tariff-enabled truce.

Trump’s initial intervention was instrumental. Yet to secure both countries’ adherence to the accord, Washington must pair continued diplomatic pressure with tangible humanitarian support and economic engagement.

Tensions first flared in the Preah Vihear temple area on 28 May. Ambiguous border demarcations dating back to 1904 and 1907 French colonial-era treaties have kept adjacent territories — and several temple sites — contested. After two months of unsuccessful attempts by Malaysia and subtle nudging from China to defuse the crisis, on 24 July the simmering dispute escalated into armed clashes across several areas along the frontier, including around the Ta Muen Thom temple.

Read the full article on East Asia Forum.

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