Following a brief skirmish on the Cambodia–Thailand border on 28 May 2025, the territorial dispute between the two countries reignited, escalating into a deterioration of relations and ultimately into a direct armed conflict, which began on 24 July 2025. The dispute originates with the Franco-Siamese treaty of 1907 between the Kingdom of Siam (now Thailand) and the French Third Republic, the latter of which ruled over French Indochina (which included today's Cambodia). After Cambodian independence, the disputed Preah Vihear Temple was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962, but it and other disputed border areas remained contested. Nationalist sentiments in both countries have fueled tensions. Between 2008 and 2011, skirmishes between the two led to casualties on both sides. On 13 February 2025, Thai soldiers prevented Cambodian tourists from singing the Cambodian national anthem at the disputed Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple. On 28 May, Cambodian and Thai soldiers briefly exchanged fire with each other, resulting in the death of one Cambodian soldier. Attempts to de-escalate failed, with continued tensions leading to border checkpoint closures. Discussions between the Cambodian and Thai militaries were held on 29 May. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet responded to the 28 May incident by seeking a ruling from the ICJ, saying that he did not want to see a conflict with Thailand. Phumtham Wechayachai, Thailand's acting prime minister, said that neither side wanted to escalate the conflict and that it had been resolved. On 23 July, a Thai soldier stepped on a landmine in the Nam Yuen district of Ubon Ratchathani, resulting in him losing a leg. The following day, direct armed conflict broke out between the two nations, with both Cambodia and Thailand claiming to have acted in self-defense.
