Politics Thailand Ramps Up Border Talks with Cambodia to Ease Tensions

Georgealbert · Sunday at 10:42 PM

Picture courtesy of Amarin.

Foreign Minister, Mr. Maris Sangiamphong, has confirmed that urgent efforts are underway to resume bilateral border negotiations with Cambodia following a recent skirmish between troops from both nations.

Speaking at a press conference on 1 June, Mr. Maris addressed the incident involving Thai and Cambodian forces on 28 May. He expressed regret over the confrontation and assured that Thailand’s response would adhere strictly to both international and domestic law.

Mr. Maris stated that discussions with his Cambodian counterpart revealed a shared desire to de-escalate tensions and find a peaceful resolution to avoid any deterioration in the long-standing relationship between the two neighbouring countries.

To resolve the situation, the Thai government is prioritising a three-pronged diplomatic mechanism. This includes the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) for technical and legal negotiations on demarcating the border, the General Border Committee (GBC), which has already convened to discuss maintaining peace and order and the Regional Border Committee (RBC), designed to build trust and cooperation at the local level.

The Foreign Minister said that Thailand is fully prepared to participate in JBC discussions and is currently awaiting Cambodia to propose a date. Talks are expected to resume within one to two weeks and no later than the end of June.

Despite the recent tensions, the situation along the Thai-Cambodian border remains stable, with all official border checkpoints open and operating normally.

Mr. Nikoradet Plangkur, Director-General of the Department of Information and spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, echoed the Foreign Minister’s sentiments. He reiterated Thailand’s commitment to international law and its right to defend its sovereignty in a proportionate and lawful manner.

He emphasised that communication between both countries has been active, with two recent exchanges between the Thai and Cambodian Foreign Ministers reflecting strong political will on both sides to resolve the issue peacefully through established mechanisms.

Mr. Nikoradet described the upcoming JBC meeting as a critical opportunity to clarify the border situation in the medium to long term. He said the commission may also recommend interim measures while waiting for a joint survey and demarcation in disputed areas. He stressed that such talks could significantly reduce the risk of further military confrontations.

The spokesperson also clarified that recent social media posts by Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, asserting that a disputed area belongs to Cambodia, have no legal standing. “He is free to post, but our position is based on facts and legal principles,” he said.

When asked about the potential for future violence, Mr. Nikoradet was cautious but hopeful. “Let’s not jump to that point. We’re currently on a path toward de-escalation. Peaceful negotiations remain our priority,” he said, adding that if violence were to erupt, security forces including the military and border patrol police would respond appropriately.

He also affirmed that Thailand’s civilian-led Foreign Ministry and the military are aligned in their approach, both favouring peaceful solutions. “We are one Thai team working toward a diplomatic resolution,” Mr. Nikoradet concluded.

Related articles:

https://aseannow.com/topic/1362059-thai-and-cambodian-soldiers-in-stand-off-after-border-gunfire-exchange/

https://aseannow.com/topic/1362273-thai-army-responds-to-cambodian-territorial-claim-amid-tensions/

https://aseannow.com/topic/1362340-6-border-checkpoints-10-cross-border-trade-points-with-cambodia-to-close-amid-tensions/

Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-06-02.