Cambodia and Thailand agree to restore border troops after deadly clash

Tensions ease as Cambodia and Thailand agree to revert troops to prior positions after a deadly clash, aiming for a peaceful border resolution

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Thai police guard outside the Cambodian Embassy as the nationalist gather to protest over the Thai-Cambodian border dispute, in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 6. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 7:56pm, 8 Jun 2025Updated: 8:20am, 9 Jun 2025

Cambodia’s Defence Ministry confirmed on Sunday that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to return their troops to previous border positions after a clash in which a Cambodian soldier was killed prompted both to reinforce their military presence.

The Cambodian statement, which said both sides wished to ease tensions following the incident in an unmarked area on May 28, came after Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said both countries were in talks to defuse the situation and would revert to positions agreed in 2024.

For days, the two governments have exchanged statements, saying they were committed to finding a peaceful resolution. Neither gave details about where nor to what extent their military forces had been reinforced at the weekend.

Thailand operates 17 official border crossings with Cambodia, spanning seven provinces along their shared 817km (508 miles) frontier, Thai government data shows. Both countries have contested sovereignty at these unmarked points along their shared border, which was mapped by France in 1907 when Cambodia was its colony.

Thai nationalists hold national flags as they gather outside the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand on June 6. Photo: EPA-EFE

Thailand’s Phumtham said both sides hoped the border issue could be fully resolved through bilateral talks, including a meeting of the Joint Boundary Committee on June 14.

Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry reiterated a request to bring the border disputes to the International Court of Justice in a letter to Thai officials on June 6.