Southeast Asia is witnessing de-escalation as Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to troop withdrawal, with military forces returning to previous border positions. This decision aims to ease the escalating tensions that followed the May 28 incident, which resulted in a Cambodian soldier’s death and led to both nations reinforcing their presence in the disputed area.
Cambodia’s Defence Ministry confirmed the accord, highlighting a mutual commitment to de-escalate the volatile situation. This confirmation reinforces earlier statements from Thai defense officials, who had indicated that discussions were progressing to revert to the 2024 troop deployments.
The historical intricacies of the shared border, mapped by France in 1907, are at the core of the ongoing sovereignty disputes. These undemarcated areas, stretching along the 817 km (508 miles) frontier, have been the site of intermittent conflicts for over a century, underscoring the deep-seated nature of the problem.
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.
