Cambodia’s Defence Ministry announced on Sunday (June 8) that both Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to withdraw their troops to prior border positions following a deadly confrontation that resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier and led to increased military deployments by both sides.  The ministry’s statement emphasized a shared desire to ease tensions stemming from the May 28 incident, which occurred in an area where the border has not been clearly demarcated. The announcement followed Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai’s comments that both nations were engaged in discussions to de-escalate the situation and had committed to returning to positions agreed upon in 2024.

For several days, both governments have issued public assurances of their commitment to a peaceful resolution. However, neither side disclosed specific details about the military build-up that occurred over the weekend. According to Thai government data, the country maintains 17 official border crossings with Cambodia, covering seven provinces along their 817-kilometre shared border. Disputes over parts of this boundary—originally drawn by France in 1907 when Cambodia was a French colony—have persisted for over a century.

Defence Minister Phumtham stated that both sides hoped to ultimately settle the issue through bilateral negotiations, including during a Joint Boundary Committee meeting scheduled for June 14. Meanwhile, Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its stance that the dispute should be brought before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as outlined in a June 6 letter to Thai officials.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn noted in the letter that due to the historical complexity and sensitivity of the border issue, bilateral dialogue alone might no longer be adequate. He argued that a ruling from the ICJ would ensure a fair and lasting solution grounded in international law. Thailand, however, has rejected the ICJ's jurisdiction and insists that all boundary matters be resolved through direct negotiations.

Border tensions between the two countries previously spiked in 2008 due to a dispute over an 11th-century Hindu temple, leading to years of conflict and multiple casualties, including a deadly artillery exchange in 2011. In the latest round of tensions, Thailand reduced operating hours at 10 border checkpoints with Cambodia over safety concerns. On Sunday, crossings—including the major one in Sa Kaeo province—cut operating hours to 8am–4pm, down from the usual 6am–10pm, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura reported.

The relationship between the two nations had seen a period of close cooperation, partly due to the personal rapport between former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen. With their children—Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Hun Manet—now serving as prime ministers, the recent border conflict has raised concerns about the current state of bilateral ties.