Thailand’s army announced on Tuesday that “hostilities still remain” with Cambodia, coinciding with Bangkok’s decision to suspend the implementation of a recently brokered US-backed peace deal. This suspension was prompted by a landmine explosion that resulted in injuries to four Thai soldiers.
The peace agreement, facilitated by former US President Donald Trump in October, aimed to de-escalate tensions that erupted into violent confrontations in July. Those clashes claimed at least 43 lives and displaced approximately 300,000 civilians. Under the terms of the pact, both nations committed to withdrawing heavy weaponry from the border and facilitating access for ceasefire observers. Thailand also agreed to return 18 Cambodian troops that had been captured during the turmoil.
While Cambodia’s government reported that the situation along the border “remains calm,” the statements from Thai officials suggest that renewed tensions have arisen following the recent landmine incident. Royal Thai Army chief Pana Klaewblaudtuk asserted that the necessity to protect national self-defense rights led to the suspension of the agreement.
In a continued strain of accusations, Thailand has frequently claimed that Cambodia has been laying new landmines along their shared border, a violation of the Ottawa Convention that bans anti-personnel mines. The Royal Thai Army reported that the landmine explosion occurred in Sisaket province on Monday.
The blast that injured Thai soldiers was a pivotal factor in the July flare-up of tensions, which predominantly centered around a territorial dispute involving a series of border temples. In response, Cambodia’s defense ministry expressed regret over the latest incident but attributed the explosive devices to remnants of earlier conflicts. The ministry added that communication between the armed forces on both sides had occurred following the incident, maintaining that the overall situation remained stable.
Despite the suspension, Cambodia has reiterated its commitment to the peace accord, which was signed on October 26 during a summit in Kuala Lumpur overseen by Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in his capacity as chair of the ASEAN regional bloc.
Analysts, including Matthew Wheeler from the International Crisis Group, described the breakdown of the agreement as “predictable.” He argued that the pact had been primarily crafted to satisfy President Trump’s goals related to trade and his desire for a reputation as a peacemaker, rather than addressing the conflict’s underlying issues.
In a further escalation of hostilities, Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has announced that he will delay the release of the captured Cambodian troops, a pivotal element of the peace deal. Anutin led a National Security Council meeting in Bangkok on Tuesday morning and planned to visit the wounded soldiers later in the day.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow stated that the suspension of the pact’s execution would be communicated to both the United States and Malaysia. Sihasak emphasized the need for Cambodia to acknowledge its role, express regret, and engage in investigations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
While a ceasefire has largely held since July 29, experts believe that a comprehensive resolution to the territorial disputes ingrained in this conflict remains far from reach.
