Why are Thailand and Cambodia fighting along their border?
Summary
Fighting has reignited along the disputed Thailand-Cambodia border, with air strikes and clashes following a fragile ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump. Tensions stem from longstanding territorial claims over areas including the Preah Vihear temple and have recently escalated after incidents and nationalist sentiments.
Key Points
- Fighting erupted along multiple locations on the Thailand-Cambodia border, involving rocket and artillery exchanges.
- Thailand conducted air strikes targeting Cambodian military installations to deter escalation and reduce military capabilities.
- The dispute centers on historical border claims, especially over the Preah Vihear temple awarded to Cambodia by the ICJ in 1962, but contested by Thailand.
- Recent tensions escalated after a Thai soldier was wounded by a landmine, leading Thailand to suspend de-escalation measures and increasing border troop deployments.
