Trump’s peace declaration between Thailand and Cambodia is under strain after a fresh border clash that killed one Cambodian villager and wounded three others. Cambodia says Thai forces opened fire twice; Thailand says its troops returned warning shots after being fired upon and suffered no casualties. The incident follows a July five-day war that displaced about 200,000 people and a recent landmine blast that injured Thai soldiers, prompting Bangkok to suspend parts of the Kuala Lumpur agreement. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet condemned the violence and called for an independent investigation amid long-running territorial disputes.
Trump-Backed Thailand–Cambodia Peace Deal Unravels After Villager Killed in New Border Clash
Trump’s peace declaration between Thailand and Cambodia is under strain after a fresh border clash that killed one Cambodian villager and wounded three others. Cambodia says Thai forces opened fire twice; Thailand says its troops returned warning shots after being fired upon and suffered no casualties. The incident follows a July five-day war that displaced about 200,000 people and a recent landmine blast that injured Thai soldiers, prompting Bangkok to suspend parts of the Kuala Lumpur agreement. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet condemned the violence and called for an independent investigation amid long-running territorial disputes.
11:31 AM, 11/13/2025Conflict
Peace Declaration Frays After Fresh Cross-Border Exchange
US President Donald Trump’s high-profile peace declaration between Thailand and Cambodia is showing signs of collapse after both sides accused one another of firing along their disputed border on Wednesday. Cambodian authorities say a villager was killed and three others wounded in Banteay Meanchey province; the Thai military says its forces fired only warning shots after coming under fire from across the line.
The brief exchange occurred two days after Bangkok announced it was suspending parts of the Trump-mediated agreement following a landmine explosion on Monday that injured several Thai soldiers while on patrol. Thailand has accused Cambodia of planting new mines; Phnom Penh denies the allegation.
Background: From Ceasefire to Kuala Lumpur Declaration
Thailand and Cambodia fought a five-day border conflict in July that killed dozens and displaced about 200,000 people on both sides. An initial ceasefire was reached on July 28 after separate calls with President Trump, and the two countries later signed a peace declaration in Kuala Lumpur in late October at a ceremony witnessed by Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet praised Trump’s role and even nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Mutually Contradictory Accounts
Cambodia’s Ministry of Defense said the Thai military opened fire at 3:50 p.m. and again roughly two hours later in a village both sides claim, describing the strikes as "provocative actions" intended to incite clashes and a violation of the Kuala Lumpur declaration. The ministry identified the location as a border village in northwestern Banteay Meanchey province and reported one civilian fatality and three injuries.
“I call on the Thai side to immediately cease the use of force against innocent Cambodian civilians,” Prime Minister Hun Manet wrote on Facebook, urging an independent investigation and reiterating Cambodia’s commitment to the ceasefire.
Thailand’s army spokesperson provided a different timeline: he said Cambodian troops fired toward the Thai side in Sa Kaeo province at about 4:00 p.m., prompting Thai troops to take cover and fire warning shots in line with the rules of engagement. The Thai military reported no casualties and said the incident lasted roughly 10 minutes.
Why This Matters
Although the exchange was short, it represents a worrying uptick in hostilities after the Kuala Lumpur declaration, which included commitments to de-escalate, withdraw heavy weapons from the border and undertake joint de-mining efforts. Each side continues to blame the other, and the situation risks reigniting larger clashes in a region already affected by months of instability.
The territorial dispute stretches back decades and centers on contested stretches of the roughly 500-mile (800-kilometer) land border. Much of the disagreement traces to maps drawn during France’s colonial rule of Cambodia, maps that Thailand does not fully accept.
Current status: Diplomatic tensions remain high. Cambodia has called for an independent probe, and Thailand has said it will brief Washington on its decision to halt parts of the agreement. Observers warn that without renewed diplomatic engagement and confidence-building measures, the fragile truce could collapse.