Phnom Penh, Bangkok Agree to Restore Pre-Clash Troop Levels

Following a deadly border clash, the governments of Cambodia and Thailand have reached an agreement to restore their troop levels to pre-clash positions. This crucial step aims to ease the heightened tensions that resulted from the May 28 incident, which led to a Cambodian fatality and increased military reinforcement by both sides.
Cambodia’s Defence Ministry confirmed the accord, stressing a mutual commitment to de-escalate the volatile situation in the undemarcated border area. This confirmation supports earlier statements from Thai defense officials, who had indicated that discussions were progressing to revert to the 2024 troop deployments.
The long-standing border issues between the two nations are a legacy of colonial-era mapping, specifically from 1907. These historical discrepancies have left several undemarcated sections along the 817 km (508 miles) shared frontier, which have been a persistent source of contention and occasional armed confrontations.
While both countries are preparing for bilateral talks, including a Joint Boundary Committee meeting on June 14, Cambodia has once again formally requested the International Court of Justice to intervene. This contrasts with Thailand’s firm position that all border-related matters should be resolved through direct bilateral negotiations, without external judicial oversight.