23 hours ago
Last Updated:July 25, 2025, 07:52 IST
Thailand has recalled its ambassador from Cambodia and urged a reciprocal move after deadly cross-border clashes. Bangkok also warned of escalating defence if attacks continue.
Thai soldiers inspect a border area in Ubon Ratchathani province amid clashes with Cambodia (Photo: AP)
The Thai government on Wednesday said it was withdrawing its ambassador from Cambodia, and requested the neighbouring country to recall its ambassador to Thailand, following the worst fighting between the countries in 13 years, which led to more than 1 lakh Thai civilians fleeing the country.
An official release by the Royal Thai Government mentioned that the country’s government is prepared to intensify its self-defence measures “if Cambodia persists in its armed attack and violations upon Thailand’s sovereignty".
According to news agency PTI, the country also declared that it was closing its border crossings with Cambodia from northeastern provinces following a landmine incident in which a Thai soldier lost a leg.
A Thai Army statement said five soldiers were wounded when one of them stepped on a land mine in a border area.
“The Royal Thai Government condemns in the strongest terms the violations of Thailand’s sovereignty and international law, following the laying of anti-personnel landmines within Thai territory that caused injuries to Thai military personnel while Thai soldiers were patrolling on 16 and 23 July 2025," the country’s foreign ministry stated in a release.
“Therefore, taking into consideration the severity of the situation as a result of Cambodia’s intentional and premeditated act against Thailand, the Royal Thai Government has decided to downgrade our diplomatic relations and recall the Thai Ambassador to Cambodia back, as well as requests the Government of Cambodia to recall its Ambassador to Thailand, respectively," it mentioned.
“The Royal Thai Government calls upon Cambodia to take responsibility for the incidents that have occurred, cease attacks against civilian and military targets, and stop all actions that violate Thailand’s sovereignty," the release mentioned.
“The Royal Thai Government is prepared to intensify our self-defense measures if Cambodia persists in its armed attack and violations upon Thailand’s sovereignty in accordance with international law and principles," it added.
Thailand scrambled an F-16 fighter jet to bomb targets in Cambodia on Thursday after artillery volleys from both sides killed at least 11 civilians, as border tension boiled over into rare armed conflict between the Southeast Asian countries.
Both blamed each other for starting a morning clash at a disputed area of the border, which quickly escalated from small arms fire to heavy shelling in at least six locations, 209 kilometres (130 miles) apart along a frontier where sovereignty has been disputed for more than a century.
WHAT’s BEHIND THE THAILAND-CAMBODIA CLASH?
The dispute between Thailand and Cambodia flared in May after armed forces of both countries briefly fired at each other in a relatively small, contested border area that each country claims as its own.
Both sides said they acted in self-defence. One Cambodian soldier was killed.
While the countries said afterwards they agreed to de-escalate the situation, Cambodian and Thai authorities continued to implement or threaten measures short of armed force, keeping tensions high.
Thailand added tight restrictions at the border with Cambodia that stopped almost all crossings except for students, medical patients and others with essential needs.
On Thursday, Thai authorities announced they were sealing the border entirely.
Cambodia also banned Thai movies and TV shows, stopped the import of Thai fuel, fruits and vegetables and boycotted some international internet links and power supply of its neighbour.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended from office on July 1 to be investigated for possible ethics violations over her handling of the border dispute following a leaked phone call with a senior Cambodian leader, wherein she referred to Cambodian former Prime Minister Hun Sen as “uncle" and criticised Thai military leadership.
The most prominent and violent conflicts have been around the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple.
In 1962, the Court of Justice awarded sovereignty over the temple area to Cambodia. The ruling became a major irritant in bilateral relations.
Cambodia went back to the court in 2011, following several clashes between its army and Thai forces that killed about 20 people and displaced thousands. The court reaffirmed the ruling in Cambodia’s favour in 2013.
Cambodia has again turned to the international court to resolve the border disputes, but Thailand has rejected the court’s jurisdiction.
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
News world 'Prepared To Intensify Self-Defence': Thailand Withdraws Cambodia Envoy, Shuts Borders Amid Clashes
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