Renewed fighting after fragile peace unravels
Tensions flared once again at the Thai–Cambodia border following the collapse of the cease-fire agreement signed in October under the mediation of Donald Trump. On 12 November 2025, a Cambodian civilian was killed and at least three others wounded when gun-fire erupted near Prey Chan in Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey province, according to Cambodian authorities. Thai officials meanwhile report that their soldiers came under fire in Sa Kaeo province and claim their forces returned fire after suspecting Cambodian troops had opened hostilities within Thai territory.
What triggered the breakdown
The detonation of a land-mine on 10 November in Sisaket province, Thailand, injuring two Thai soldiers (one of them losing a foot), marked the turning point. Thailand accused Cambodia of laying the mine and suspended the implementation of the peace accord in response. The original truce, known as the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord, was signed on 26 October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur under U.S. and Malaysian witness. It set out mutual commitments including heavy-weapon withdrawal and de-mining of disputed border zones.
Deep-rooted disputes and continuing risks
The long-standing territorial dispute between the two countries involves colonial-era maps, the sacred temple of Preah Vihear Temple and shifting loyalties in frontier zones. Hostilities earlier this year—most intensely in July—left dozens dead and hundreds of thousands displaced. Despite the peace accord, many of the underlying issues—such as border demarcation, mine clearance and overlapping claims—remained unresolved. The recent violence underscores how fragile the truce was.
Reactions and consequences
Harsh rhetoric has followed. Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul declared, “peace is over” after the land-mine incident, signalling a return to hardened posture. Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet condemned the “violation of humanitarian principles” after the Cambodian death, blaming Thai forces for the gunfire. Regional observers warn that the revival of hostilities threatens more civilian displacement, risks to cross-border trade and renewed military escalation.
What to watch next
- Whether Thailand or Cambodia will formally abandon the 26 October accord or attempt “damage control” with new terms.
- The scale and speed of reinforcements and weapon deployments along the 500+ km disputed frontier.
- The role of external actors (ASEAN, U.S., Malaysia) in trying to salvage the peace deal.
- Humanitarian fallout: how many more civilians will be forced from border communities, and how rapidly responses will be deployed.
The takeaway
The fatal clash at the Thai–Cambodia border marks a stark reversal of progress under last month’s internationally-witnessed peace deal. With one person dead and official relations deteriorating fast, the episode reminds us that without effective mechanisms for border-control, mine-clearance and mutual trust, even well-intentioned treaties may collapse under the weight of unresolved grievances.
