Thailand and Cambodia are not in a formally declared full-scale war, but they are in a serious armed border conflict that many describe as being “like” a war. The immediate fighting is over disputed stretches of their shared border, especially around ancient temples and nearby land.
Main reasons
- The core issue is an old territorial dispute along an 817 km border, much of which was vaguely drawn during France’s colonial rule over Cambodia, leaving several areas and temple zones claimed by both sides.
- Specific flashpoints include temple areas such as Preah Vihear and other nearby sites, where both countries say the land and access routes belong to them.
Why it escalated now
- In 2025, small clashes and incidents (including a deadly skirmish in May and Thai soldiers injured by landmines) escalated into artillery exchanges and Thai airstrikes on Cambodian positions, after each side accused the other of crossing or violating the contested border.
- Both governments face internal political pressures and have used strong nationalist rhetoric, which makes backing down harder and encourages a tougher military posture at the frontier.
Are they “at war”?
- There has been heavy fighting with artillery, rockets, and airstrikes, and thousands of civilians have fled border areas, which makes the situation feel like a war for people living there.
- However, Thai officials have said there is no formal declaration of war, and regional actors are pushing for de‑escalation and ceasefire talks to prevent it from becoming a full, prolonged war between the two states.
