Thailand and Cambodia Are Fighting Again: Dangerous Zones for Tourists

Photo: Travel and Tour World

Fierce fighting continues along the border between Thailand and Cambodia, leaving at least 20 people dead and nearly 200 injured. The conflict has forced more than 500,000 residents to flee their homes and has become the deadliest clash between the two countries since July, reports The Guardian.

What is happening

The current escalation is a continuation of a conflict that already led to large-scale fighting earlier this summer. In July, clashes lasted five days and claimed dozens of lives, after which a ceasefire was announced with international mediation. Hostilities resumed after the truce on December 7. Within a few days, the fighting spread across several border areas, with both sides accusing each other of launching attacks and violating previously reached agreements.

Cambodia’s defence ministry said Thailand had carried out new airstrikes on border areas, accusing Bangkok of using various types of heavy weapons and deploying large numbers of troops onto Cambodian territory. Authorities in Phnom Penh described these actions as a violation of international law. Thailand, for its part, rejected the accusations and said Cambodian forces had launched artillery and mortar attacks on Thai positions on Wednesday evening. According to the Thai army, it responded with the same types of weapons, destroying enemy equipment, including military trucks.

Amid the ongoing clashes, the humanitarian situation in border regions remains tense. Hundreds of thousands of people are being housed in temporary shelters, schools, and administrative buildings, while daily life in several areas has effectively come to a halt. Evacuations are also continuing in Cambodia, where people are being relocated to safe zones and to relatives’ homes away from the front line.

Prospects for negotiations

US President Donald Trump previously took part in mediation efforts between the two countries. This time, he again said he intended to contact the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia, expressing confidence that he could achieve a ceasefire quickly, claiming he could resolve the conflict “pretty quickly.” Washington also recalled that the previous truce had been reached through the efforts of the United States, China, and Malaysia in its role as chair of ASEAN. However, no sustainable mechanism to monitor compliance was established, leaving the agreement vulnerable to new border incidents.

The situation is further complicated by domestic political instability in Thailand. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has announced plans to dissolve parliament, which could lead to snap elections within 45–60 days. Against the backdrop of the election campaign, analysts do not rule out a tougher tone on the border issue. Observers believe that, with a vote approaching, authorities may seek to project a hardline stance and readiness to defend the country’s territorial interests, reducing the likelihood of a swift return to negotiations.

According to Reuters, as of December 13 clashes involving heavy weapons continue across seven Thai border provinces. Donald Trump announced a new ceasefire, but just hours later airstrikes were carried out against border targets. Neither Bangkok nor Phnom Penh has officially confirmed the existence of a new truce. Moreover, acting prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul stressed that military operations would continue until threats to the country’s territory and citizens were eliminated. Thailand said it was ready to cooperate with an observer mission but emphasised that any ceasefire would only be possible after preliminary talks. Phnom Penh, meanwhile, supported Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s proposal to halt hostilities and deploy an ASEAN monitoring mission along the border, involving Malaysian forces and US satellite monitoring.

Advice for travellers

Authorities in several countries have already issued recommendations to postpone visits to the region regardless of purpose or circumstances. In particular, citizens of the United States and the Netherlands are advised to avoid travel within 50 km of the Thai–Cambodian border. It is noted that land border crossings are effectively closed to foreigners, making safe transit impossible. At the same time, the warnings do not currently apply to the Thai islands of Ko Chang and Ko Kut, despite their geographic proximity to the conflict zone.

In southern Thailand and in areas near the border with Myanmar, risks linked to instability, armed clashes, and criminal activity persist. In the rest of Thailand and Cambodia, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Siem Reap, heightened caution is advised. Travel is formally permitted, but travellers are urged to closely monitor developments, take political risks into account, and strictly comply with local laws.



Analysts at International Investment note that the protracted nature of the conflict and the absence of a stable ceasefire mechanism create additional risks not only for regional security but also for the hospitality sector and foreign investment. If current trends persist, instability in border areas could continue to weigh on the recovery of tourism and increase investor caution, especially in sectors sensitive to geopolitical and humanitarian risks.