BANGKOK, July 30, 2025 — Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia escalated on Wednesday as Thailand’s military accused Cambodian forces of violating a recently brokered ceasefire for the second time in two days, warning that continued aggression could force a stronger military response.
The Thai military reported that Cambodian troops fired small arms and grenade launchers in Sisaket province, near the disputed northern border. Thai forces responded in self-defence, according to military spokesperson Major-General Winthai Suvaree.
“This repeated violation undermines the spirit of the ceasefire, disrupts efforts to de-escalate, and erodes mutual trust,” he said during a press briefing.
The ceasefire agreement, which took effect midnight Monday, followed five days of intense clashes that left at least 43 people dead and displaced over 300,000 civilians. The truce was brokered by Malaysia, with significant diplomatic pressure from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Both leaders urged immediate calm, with Trump warning that continued hostilities could impact trade negotiations. The U.S. currently imposes a 36% tariff on Thai and Cambodian exports, and discussions to reduce this were linked to regional stability.
In response to the Thai accusations, Cambodia rejected the claims, calling them “false, misleading, and harmful to trust-building.” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Chum Sounry reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to the ceasefire and called for international observers to monitor compliance on both sides.
Despite the agreement’s call to halt troop movements and hostilities, there have been no confirmed reports of troop withdrawals. However, both nations have agreed to convene a high-level military meeting involving defence ministers on August 4 in Cambodia to address ceasefire violations and establish verification mechanisms.
Observers warn that without immediate de-escalation and a robust monitoring system, the region risks sliding back into violence — making this ceasefire a critical test for regional diplomacy and border stability.