Why are Thailand and Cambodia fighting at the border?

Escalating tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have flared once again along their shared border, derailing a fragile ceasefire backed by US President Donald Trump.

At least three Thai soldiers and seven Cambodian civilians have been killed since Monday as the countries blame each other for starting the violence.

The clashes, in which Thailand also witnessed air strikes along the border, are the most serious clashes since the ceasefire was agreed in July.

This is not a new debate. The dispute between Thailand and Cambodia dates back more than a century, when the two countries’ borders were drawn after the French invaded Cambodia.

Conflicts escalated in 2008, when Cambodia sought to register an 11th-century temple located in the disputed area as a Unesco World Heritage Site. The move was met with heated protests in Thailand.

Over the years there have been sporadic clashes in which soldiers and civilians died on both sides.

Recent tensions escalated after a Cambodian soldier was killed in action in May. This has plunged relations between the countries to their lowest point in more than a decade.

so far First conflict in JulyBoth countries had imposed border restrictions. Cambodia has banned imports from Thailand, including fruits and vegetables, power supplies and internet services.

Both countries have strengthened their military presence on the border in recent weeks.

Both sides gave different explanations about what happened.

On Monday, December 8, the Thai military said its troops responded to Cambodian fire in Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani Province. It was stated that a Thai soldier was killed.

The Thai military said it also carried out airstrikes on military targets along the disputed border.

However, the Cambodian defense ministry said that Thai forces were the first to attack Preah Vihear province. Cambodia also insisted it did not retaliate.

The following day, the Thai military accused Cambodia of launching rockets and using bomb-dropping drones and kamikaze drones against Thai soldiers; Some rockets reportedly hit civilian areas.

He later confirmed that he had launched more airstrikes.

Cambodia also accused Thailand of opening indiscriminate fire on civilian areas in its border Pursat Province.

While both sides exchanged gunfire, each claimed that the other triggered the conflict.

The incident quickly escalated, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of launching rockets and Bangkok launching airstrikes against Cambodian military targets.

At least 48 people were killed and thousands were displaced during the five-day conflict.

Trump then intervened and negotiated a ceasefire with Malaysian help.

The US president later oversaw the signing of what he called the “Kuala Lumpar peace agreement” in October. Thailand refused to call it that and instead referred to it as the “Joint Statement of the Prime Ministers of Thailand and Cambodia on the results of their meeting in Kuala Lumpur”.

Both leaders agreed to withdraw their heavy weapons from the disputed region and establish a temporary observer team to monitor the region.

The next step was supposed to include the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers held in Thailand.

Thailand paused the agreement in November, with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul saying the security threat “has not actually diminished”.

At that time, Cambodia announced that it was adhering to the terms of the agreement.

Following the resumption of hostilities in December, Thai foreign minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told the BBC that the ceasefire was “not working” and that the “ball was in Cambodia’s court”.

But Cambodia’s former prime minister, Hun Sen, said fire was returned late Monday to respect the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, according to Reuters news agency, Trump called on both sides to respect the agreement.

It’s unclear where this will go next.

Although serious conflicts have occurred in the past, these subsided relatively quickly.

In July, our reporter thought Jonathan Head would follow this path again.

But he warned that there is currently a lack of leadership in both countries with the strength and self-confidence to step back from this confrontation.

You can read more Here is his analysis from earlier in the year.

The UK Foreign Office currently advises travelers to Thailand against non-essential travel to areas within 50 kilometers of the entire Cambodian border.

For those living in Cambodia, all but essential travel to border areas within 50 kilometers of the Thai border is recommended.

You can check the latest travel advice on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website..