What led to Thailand's indefinite border closure with Cambodia
The Thai military announced that all border crossings with Cambodia would be indefinitely closed following renewed clashes that killed at least 15 people.
The unanimous decision, announced on September 26 by the chiefs of Thailand’s armed forces, also includes building fences and reinforcing patrols along the 817-kilometre frontier. General Songwit Noonphukdi, Chief of Defence Forces, said the closure would remain until Cambodia is “no longer deemed a threat to national security.”
The move follows violent confrontations earlier this month in which Thai forces clashed with Cambodian demonstrators near Sa Kaeo province.
Cambodian officials said at least 23 of their nationals were injured, while Thailand reported injuries to five of its officers. Phnom Penh has accused Bangkok of violating its territory, escalating tensions despite a fragile ceasefire brokered in July.
The shutdown threatens $3 billion in annual cross-border trade and leaves tens of thousands of Cambodian migrant workers stranded. It also risks destabilising ASEAN’s efforts to mediate, with both the United States and China urging restraint.
Pressure is rising from outside as well. The UN Security Council called an emergency meeting in July, with all 15 members calling for restraint. Norway, Pakistan, and Russia issued new pleas, and ASEAN’s General Border Committee will meet in October with hopes of finding a way forward. However, with Cambodia reaching out to the ICJ and Thailand pushing for direct talks instead, any solution still feels far off.
Border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia, rooted in century-old territorial ambiguities near temple sites such as Preah Vihear, have flared repeatedly, most recently between 2008 and 2011.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
