The Thailand–Cambodia conflict is a long-running border dispute that has remained unresolved for many years. In 2025, the situation turned serious again, leading to violence, loss of lives, and large-scale displacement of civilians.

The main reason behind the conflict is the disagreement over the border areas between Thailand and Cambodia. Both countries claim parts of land around ancient temples, especially Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom. These temples are not just historical sites but also hold deep cultural and religious value.

In July 2025, heavy clashes broke out along the disputed border areas. Many people were killed, and several families were forced to leave their homes. To control the situation, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to a ceasefire on 28 July 2025. This agreement was reached during emergency talks held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with help from ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
The ceasefire did not last long. In November 2025, violence returned after both sides accused each other of breaking the truce. The clashes happened near Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province and Thailand’s Sisaket and Surin provinces. From 8 December to mid-December 2025, the situation became worse as fighting spread to many border areas.
The renewed violence caused a major humanitarian crisis. Hundreds of thousands of people were displaced. Schools were closed, villages were evacuated, and emergency relief work started in both countries to help affected families.
On 24 December 2025, tensions increased further after Cambodia accused Thai authorities of demolishing a statue of Lord Vishnu near a disputed border area. Cambodian officials said the statue, built in 2014, had religious and cultural importance. They claimed its removal hurt public sentiments, especially during a time of conflict.

Thailand rejected the accusation and said the statue was removed during security operations in a high-risk border area. Thai authorities stated that there was no intention to disrespect any religion and questioned Even though both countries gave different explanations, the incident worsened relations. Experts said that damaging or removing religious symbols added emotional and cultural tension, making peace talks more difficult.
India’s MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reacted to the incident on X. He said that Hindu and Buddhist deities are deeply respected across the region and are part of a shared civilisational heritage. He added that hurting religious symbols is disrespectful and can hurt the feelings of millions of people. India urged both Thailand and Cambodia to return to dialogue, restore peace, and avoid further loss of lives, property, and cultural heritage.
The Thailand–Cambodia border conflict remains sensitive and complex. The return of violence in 2025 and incidents linked to religious symbols have made the situation more serious. Peace talks and dialogue are now more important than ever to protect lives, culture, and regional stability.

Tags

• thailand
• cambodia
• lord vishnu
• hindus

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