Cambodia Alleges Thai Troop Movements, Barbed Wire and Structures Despite Ceasefire
Cambodia Alleges Thai Troop Movements, Barbed Wire and Structures Despite Ceasefire
PHNOM PENH, Sept. 4, 2026 — Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence has briefed 22 foreign military attachés from 18 countries on the latest developments along the Cambodia-Thailand border, with a senior defence official alleging that Thai forces continue to move troops, deploy barbed wire and containers, construct permanent structures and prevent displaced Cambodian civilians from returning home despite the ceasefire.
The briefing was led by Lieutenant General Rath Dararoth, Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defence, at the ministry’s headquarters in Phnom Penh on Thursday morning. The ministry said the session was intended to provide foreign military representatives with an update on the situation along the border following the ceasefire.
Rath Dararoth said that although Cambodia and Thailand had agreed to a ceasefire and established mechanisms to address their border dispute, the situation on the ground continues to face a number of negative developments.
According to the Cambodian side, Thai military forces have continued activities including troop movements, the installation of barbed-wire barriers, placement of containers and construction of permanent structures along disputed areas. Cambodia also alleges that these activities have obstructed the return of Cambodian civilians to their homes.
The Cambodian defence official’s remarks come as Cambodia continues to emphasize the importance of monitoring and verification mechanisms along the frontier. The ASEAN Observer Team has recently conducted field visits to agreed boundary locations in Cambodia to observe, verify and report on the implementation of the ceasefire.
Cambodia has maintained that border issues should be resolved peacefully through dialogue, existing bilateral mechanisms and international law, while calling for the resumption of joint survey and boundary-demarcation work through the Joint Boundary Commission.
Thailand, meanwhile, has previously rejected Cambodian allegations concerning military activities in disputed areas, saying its forces have remained in areas under its control and that their deployment complies with the bilateral ceasefire arrangements.
The latest briefing reflects Cambodia’s continued effort to keep foreign diplomatic and military representatives informed about developments along the border as both sides seek to maintain the ceasefire and address outstanding territorial issues.
