[Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Photo credit to Unsplash]

Thailand and Cambodia agreed to a ceasefire after days of intense border fighting that left 33 people dead and reignited longstanding territorial disputes between the Southeast Asian neighbors.

The truce took effect on July 28 following recent skirmishes involving infantry, artillery, rockets, and airstrikes in disputed border zones.

The ceasefire was brokered with massive pressure from U.S. President Trump, who urged both nations to end hostilities immediately.

A Cambodian official credited Trump with “bringing about peace.”

However, tensions persist.

On July 29th, just one day after the ceasefire took effect, Thai military officials claimed they continued to receive gunfire from Cambodian forces.

Cambodia has denied these allegations.

The current conflict escalated dramatically following a landmine explosion on July 23rd that injured five Thai soldiers in a border area, with one soldier losing a leg.

Thailand immediately withdrew its ambassador from Cambodia, expelled Cambodia’s envoy, and shut down border crossings between the two countries.

The crisis deepened after a May incident in which a Cambodian soldier was shot and killed by Thai forces in a contested border region.

This triggered a diplomatic attempt at de-escalation when Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra spoke with Hun Sen, Cambodia's influential former Prime Minister, on June 15th.

The conversation backfired spectacularly for Shinawatra when Hun Sen published details on Facebook. 

Her offer to "arrange what he wanted" and her reference to him as "uncle" drew fierce criticism from the Thai public, who accused her of taking a pro-Cambodia stance during the conflict. 

Shinawatra was suspended from her role as Prime Minister within two weeks.

The Thailand-Cambodia border dispute has deep historical roots dating back to French colonial rule in Cambodia during the 20th century and disagreements over the precise boundary lines.

Thailand served as a buffer state between French and British colonies and was never colonized.  

However, French authorities in Cambodia disputed Thailand's interpretation of the border boundaries. 

This fundamental disagreement was never resolved.

The Preah Vihear temple, located on the border and claimed by both nations, became a central flashpoint in the 21st century.

When it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, the decision triggered rocket and rifle exchanges between Thai and Cambodian armies, resulting in multiple soldier deaths.

Fighting has sporadically and intermittently broken out since 2008, and it is often the case that both sides blame the other for firing first. 

In 2011, both countries clashed militarily over a jungle area containing ancient temples.

A UN court ordered the establishment of a demilitarized zone, but the directive proved largely ineffective.

The current escalation is the most serious border conflict between the two nations since the 2011 clashes, with the involvement of heavy weaponry and airstrikes demonstrating a dangerous new phase in the longstanding territorial dispute.

The ceasefire’s durability remains uncertain, raising questions about whether this latest diplomatic effort can succeed where previous peace initiatives have failed.