A long-term border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand escalated in July 2025, when the border between these Theravada Buddhist neighbors in Southeast Asia was partially closed – and crossing times restricted – after shots were fired, government websites were hacked, and threats were made by the Thai government to cut electricity in response to what they see as a military buildup by Cambodia (the contested area is called Mom Bei – which Thailand calls Chong Bok – in the Emerald Triangle where the borders of Cambodia, Thailand and Laos meet).

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President Trump has claimed that he “ended” the “war” between Cambodia and Thailand, but that’s false. On July 28, 2025, after five days of conflict at their border, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an unconditional ceasefire, but the talks were held in Malaysia and the only contribution Donald Trump made was threatening – through a post on Truth Social, naturally –  to stop tariff negotiations with both countries if they didn’t deescalate the conflict (not to mention that, in November 2025, Thailand suspended parts of the agreement after its soldiers were injured by a landmine).

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President Trump once again claimed he had helped the two countries reach a new ceasefire on December 13, 2025, but Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul quickly rejected that, saying, “Thailand will continue to perform military actions until we feel no more harm and threats to our land and people. I want to make it clear.” Two weeks later, a new agreement was signed by the two countries at a border checkpoint, but tensions remain high.

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Meanwhile, in Thailand, the Constitutional Court ousted Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the youngest one ever, after just one year in office for alleged ethical violations that arose from a leaked phone conversation between Shinawatra and former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. In the phone call, the two spoke of the recent border dispute, with Shinawatra ridiculing a Thai army general in charge of the border.

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This was the fifth time in 17 years the powerful Constitutional Court – which is an unelected body of nine judges – has removed a Prime Minster (Srettha Thavisin was banished just 12 months before Shinawatra was). Anutin Charnvirakul, the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, was elected by Parliament on September 5, 2025 and was then re-elected for a new term following a parliamentary vote on March 19, 2026.