Thailand-Cambodia Conflict Escalates Despite Trump-Backed Ceasefire
Renewed hostilities between Thailand and Cambodia have surged along their contested border, undermining recent diplomatic efforts — including a ceasefire claim publicly promoted by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Fortune+1
Ceasefire Claim vs. Reality on the Ground
In mid-December 2025, Donald Trump announced on social media that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to end fighting and return to an existing peace accord. Fortune However, senior Thai officials and the Cambodian government denied that a ceasefire was in effect, and intense clashes continued unabated. Fortune
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul insisted his forces would keep up military operations until Cambodian actions no longer threatened Thai territory. DIE WELT Meanwhile, both sides traded accusations of initiating the latest violence. The Guardian
Air Strikes, Border Closures and Humanitarian Impact
The renewed conflict has involved air strikes, artillery duels and ground combat across multiple provinces on both sides of the border. The Times Cambodia shut major border crossings, stranding thousands of Thai citizens, prompting emergency repatriation efforts. Reuters
The escalation has triggered a mass displacement crisis, with more than half a million civilians fleeing homes in affected border regions. The Guardian
Long-Standing Territorial Dispute at Heart
The border clashes stem from a centuries-old territorial dispute dating back to colonial-era map demarcations and historical claims — issues that have repeatedly erupted into violence, most recently around areas such as the Preah Vihear and Ta Khwai temple zones. Wikipedia
While a formal peace framework — the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord — was signed in October 2025 in the presence of Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Trump, continued combat has shown how fragile these arrangements remain. Wikipedia
Regional and Diplomatic Ripples
The conflict has resonated beyond military lines. Cambodia withdrew its team from the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand due to safety concerns, and Thailand’s parliament was dissolved amidst political strain tied to the border crisis. Reuters+1
ASEAN members, including Malaysia, are preparing diplomatic initiatives to push for renewed negotiations, while humanitarian partners warn of worsening conditions for displaced populations.
