Thailand and Cambodia Engage in Cross-Border Attacks Despite Ceasefire Talks

Thai military mobile unit firing artillery shells toward Cambodia. July 25, 2025, Surin, Thailand.

On Sunday, July 27, 2025, Thailand and Cambodia continued cross-border artillery attacks for the fourth consecutive day, despite growing prospects for ceasefire negotiations. According to AFP correspondents and Cambodia’s Defense Ministry, the clashes persisted near two disputed temples.

AFP journalists in Cambodia’s Samraong city, located approximately 20 kilometers from the conflict zone, reported hearing regular artillery fire since dawn. A spokesperson for Cambodia’s Defense Ministry confirmed that fighting began around 4:50 AM near the contested temple sites.

On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that leaders of both Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to immediate ceasefire talks. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet welcomed Trump’s initiative on Sunday, expressing his country’s willingness to engage in ceasefire discussions to halt the ongoing border conflict. He added that Cambodia’s Foreign Minister would coordinate with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Thai government but cautioned Bangkok against violating any potential agreement. In posts on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump revealed he had spoken with both Cambodia’s Prime Minister and Thailand’s Acting Prime Minister on Saturday while visiting Scotland. “Just spoke with the Prime Minister of Cambodia about stopping the war with Thailand,” Trump wrote. In a follow-up post, he added, “Just had a very good conversation with the Acting Prime Minister of Thailand. Like Cambodia, Thailand also wants a quick ceasefire.” The Thailand-Cambodia border dispute, centered around historical claims, dates back over a century. Tensions flared anew in May 2025, leading to cross-border attacks that began on Thursday. By Saturday, at least 32 people from both countries had been killed, and approximately 175,000 people were displaced from the border region. In his Truth Social post, Trump stated, “I am relaying this message from Thailand’s Acting Prime Minister to Cambodia’s Prime Minister. After speaking with both sides, ceasefire, peace, and prosperity seem natural. We will see it soon.” He also hinted that failure to halt the conflict could jeopardize trade agreements with the United States. According to a Reuters report, Thailand’s Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai thanked President Trump for his efforts. In a Facebook post, he stated that Thailand was “in principle, agreed to a ceasefire” but emphasized that they wanted to see “sincere intentions” from Cambodia.