Cambodia, Thailand Conclude Talks Advancing Border Demarcation Amid Deadly Clash

Thai and Cambodian officials met in Phnom Penh in June 2025 to address ongoing border tensions following a deadly skirmish in May, where a Cambodian soldier was killed in the disputed Emerald Triangle region. Both sides agreed to dispatch a joint survey team to demarcate agreed border markers as part of efforts to reduce tensions, with Thailand hosting the next Joint Boundary Commission meeting in September. Despite progress, four disputed border areas were not resolved during talks, as Cambodia submitted a case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) seeking a legal resolution, urging Thailand to join the submission, which Thailand has rejected, not recognizing the ICJ's compulsory jurisdiction. The conflict has roots in colonial-era border demarcations and has led to sporadic violence and at least 28 deaths since 2008. Both countries have taken reciprocal economic and security measures, including border control adjustments and suspension of trade and electricity supplies, highlighting the dispute's broader impact. Officials expressed a commitment to diplomatic dialogue as the most effective way forward, aiming to restore peaceful relations and mutual understanding between the neighboring nations.