BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand will not reopen its border with Cambodia until Phnom Penh fulfills four specific preconditions set out in a recent peace accord and restores full diplomatic relations, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
Sequential Steps Before Reopening
Bangkok’s stance signaled a demand for concrete progress rather than symbolic gestures. The Thai and Cambodian leaders had signed a joint declaration on Sunday aimed at de‑escalating border tensions, but Anutin said calm would only return if implementation followed an agreed sequence.
“THAILAND WAS NOT THE ONE THAT VIOLATED THE CEASEFIRE CONDITIONS, SO ALL ACTIONS MUST BEGIN WITH CAMBODIA,”
he told reporters, dismissing speculation that border checkpoints might reopen on November 1.
The Four Preconditions
Officials detailed the four steps that Cambodia must meet before any reopening:
• Withdrawal of heavy weaponry: Cambodia began a limited pullback of artillery and tanks on Sunday evening, observed by ASEAN envoys. Thailand, however, is demanding verifiable removal of all weapons along the 817‑kilometre (508‑mile) frontier to prevent renewed confrontation.
• Landmine removal: Thai demining teams are preparing to clear mines in contested zones such as Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaew in Sa Kaeo province, where anti‑personnel devices allegedly planted by Cambodian forces still threaten civilians. Thai officials emphasized that Cambodia’s cooperation and continuous ASEAN oversight are required to ensure safety.
• Crackdown on transnational crime: Bangkok has already cut internet access and frozen assets tied to scam syndicates operating from Cambodian territory. These groups, accused of defrauding victims in South Korea, China, and elsewhere, have strained Cambodia’s international standing. Anutin called the crackdown essential for rebuilding trust between the neighbors.
• Resolution of border area conflicts: Thailand insists on clear administration in disputed villages of Sa Kaeo and Ubon Ratchathani provinces, where security forces have accused Cambodia of using demonstrators as “human shields.” Authorities plan to resettle affected Thai families and, if violations continue, may revoke historic agreements such as MOU 43 (2000) on land demarcation.
Economic and Human Impact
The border has been closed in phases since June 2025, following repeated incursions including unapproved Cambodian patrols near Ta Moan Thom temple and fresh landmine accidents. The restrictions have disrupted trade worth over 100 billion baht (≈US $2.8 billion) annually at crossings such as Aranyaprathet‑Poipet, stalling garment exports, agriculture shipments, and regional tourism.
More than one million Cambodian migrant workers employed in Thailand have faced legal uncertainty or deportation risks. Analysts warned that prolonged closure could inflict lasting damage on local economies dependent on cross‑border markets.
Diplomatic Strain and Regional Pressure
Relations deteriorated rapidly after both countries expelled their ambassadors early in 2025, reviving painful memories of the 2008–2011 Preah Vihear clashes that left dozens dead.
Defence Minister Gen. Nattaphon Narkphanit described Cambodia’s initial troop withdrawal as merely “symbolic” and urged stronger guarantees for border residents’ safety. Government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat added that Thailand still held 18 Cambodian soldiers detained in earlier incidents, who would be released only once all terms had been satisfied.
Meanwhile, ASEAN Secretary‑General Kao Kim Hourn welcomed the new joint declaration but appealed for faster dialogue to secure regional stability. Diplomatic observers said ASEAN’s role as a neutral monitor would be critical in verifying each precondition and restoring mutual confidence between the neighboring states.