Cambodia’s acting head of state, Hun Sen, has said he misjudged relations with Thailand, saying he had placed too much trust in his Thai friends.
Speaking to residents and displaced people in Banteay Meanchey province on June 9, Hun Sen said Cambodia would continue to use political and diplomatic channels to resolve its border dispute with Thailand, rather than military force.
He warned that launching an attack to retake areas currently held by Thai forces could weaken Cambodia’s position internationally and lead to accusations that Cambodia had violated the ceasefire and started a new conflict.
“Political and diplomatic failure is more serious than military failure,” Hun Sen said, adding that the international community currently views Cambodia in a positive light and that the government does not want to lose its legitimacy on the world stage.
Hun Sen said Cambodia’s decision not to respond with weapons after the ceasefire did not mean the country lacked military capability. He said the government was considering the wider political, diplomatic, and humanitarian consequences.
He warned that renewed fighting could lead to the evacuation of civilians, loss of life, and further clashes between the two countries’ armed forces.
Although Cambodia and Thailand agreed to a ceasefire in late 2025, Cambodian officials have accused Thai forces of continuing activities in disputed areas, including digging trenches, building new roads, and damaging property along the border.
The Cambodian government has filed repeated diplomatic protests and called on Thailand to stop what it describes as violations of Cambodian sovereignty.
Thailand has rejected claims that it has seized Cambodian territory, saying the areas in question are under Thai sovereignty.
The dispute has prompted calls from many Cambodians for the matter to be brought before the International Court of Justice. Critics have questioned why the Cambodian government has not pursued that legal path.
Um Sam An, who heads border and immigration affairs for the self-described Cambodia Independent Government of October 23, accused the Cambodian government of allowing Thai forces to take Cambodian land to avoid another outbreak of fighting.
Banteay Meanchey governor Um Reatrey has previously told diplomats, international organisations, and journalists that Thai forces had surrounded Cambodian land in three areas of the province, covering 20 locations.
He said Thai forces had deployed barbed wire and more than 100 shipping containers, affecting nearly 800 hectares of land. Cambodian officials say similar tactics have also been used in other border areas.
