BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s acting defence minister accused Cambodian troops of deliberately setting forest fires along the shared border, warning that the blazes risked a dangerous military escalation.
Bangkok alleges provocative border tactics
Acting Defence Minister Gen. Natthaphon Narkphanit described the conduct of Cambodian soldiers as “undisciplined and potentially provocative” and said Thailand would not tolerate such actions. He stated after a high-level defence meeting that the fires were particularly sensitive because they coincided with existing tensions over mined disputed areas and recent shooting incidents along the frontier.
Direct contact with Phnom Penh
Natthaphon said he had contacted his Cambodian counterpart Gen. Tea Seiha directly to convey Thailand’s concerns over both landmines and the current border fires.
“If Cambodia truly seeks a peaceful solution, this must not be the chosen means,”
said Natthaphon, acting defence minister, adding that such measures undermined diplomatic efforts and increased the risk of escalation.
Decades-old dispute and recent clashes
The accusations came against the backdrop of border disputes dating back to the 1950s, centred on contested areas including land around the ancient Preah Vihear temple. In 2025 there had been a significant military escalation with clashes and a partially US-brokered ceasefire, while in recent months landmine injuries to Thai soldiers and exchanges of fire at the border had further strained relations.
Competing claims and propaganda fears
Natthaphon also accused Cambodian troops of spreading false claims, including allegations that Thai soldiers had fired on and injured Cambodian forces, which Thai officials said were not supported by available evidence. Phnom Penh had not publicly responded to the latest accusations but had previously rejected similar claims from Bangkok and denied any deliberate role in aggravating border problems.
Plans for fences and electronic surveillance
To tighten control along the frontier, the defence minister said Thailand was considering permanent fencing at busy crossings such as Ban Khlong Luek and Thmor Da. Additional electronic barriers and CCTV systems could be installed there to detect unauthorised activities more quickly and limit cross-border incidents.
Smog crisis and health risks
Beyond security concerns, Thai authorities believed the allegedly deliberate fires were worsening the annual smog crisis that built up along the border during the dry season. Forest and field fires in the region significantly increased hazardous PM2.5 fine dust levels, affecting large parts of the country and pushing air quality in major cities like Bangkok into worrying territory.
Satellite data show record hotspots
According to assessments by NASA and Thai agencies, more than 4,462 fire hotspots were recently detected in Cambodia, the highest figure since the start of the current burning season. Easterly winds were carrying smoke into Thailand as cross-border haze, hitting cities such as Bangkok and Pattaya and eastern provinces including Sa Kaeo and Prachin Buri, and driving particulate levels into the health-threatening range.
Tourism and political fallout
The deteriorating air quality was also affecting tourism, particularly in popular coastal destinations like Pattaya and on islands such as Koh Chang, where smog and poor visibility were reported to be weighing on visitor numbers. While Thai authorities called for stricter rules against open burning and experts highlighted the need for bilateral cooperation, Cambodian officials attributed the numerous fires mainly to the burning of rice stubble and waste and rejected accusations of a targeted burden on Thailand.
Calls for de-escalation
The Bangkok government urged Cambodia to keep its border troops under control and to halt the fires, stressing that a peaceful resolution of the disputes remained the top priority. Both sides were closely monitoring the situation along the frontier, while diplomatic channels were to remain open in an effort to prevent further incidents and stop tensions from sliding into open military confrontation.