Cambodia Rejects Thai Claim Preah Vihear Used as Military Base

Cambodia Rejects Thai Claim Preah Vihear Used as Military Base

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 27, 2026 — Cambodia on Friday rejected allegations by Thailand’s foreign minister that the Temple of Preah Vihear had been used as a military base, calling the claim “categorically false” and reaffirming its sovereignty over the UNESCO-listed site.

In a statement, Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts responded to remarks attributed to Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, reported by The Nation Thailand, alleging that Cambodia had used the temple for military purposes.

“The Temple of Preah Vihear has never been designated, developed, or used as a military base,” the ministry said, describing the monument as a sacred cultural and religious site of Outstanding Universal Value.

Cambodia said it remains fully committed to its obligations under the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property and the 1972 World Heritage Convention, ensuring the temple is preserved solely for peaceful, cultural and religious purposes.

The ministry cited the 1962 ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which confirmed Cambodia’s sovereignty over the temple and required Thailand to withdraw its forces, as well as the Court’s 2013 clarification that Cambodia’s sovereignty extends over the entire promontory of Preah Vihear. It said the decisions are final and binding under Article 94 of the UN Charter.

The statement said the temple had remained under peaceful Cambodian administration from 1962 to 2008, when Thai military personnel entered surrounding areas, leading to tensions and damage. It also referenced renewed clashes in 2025 that Cambodian authorities said caused further damage to the monument and its vicinity.

Cambodia said any security presence at the site is strictly limited to heritage protection and cannot be characterized as militarization.

The government said it is documenting evidence of damage to support restoration efforts and ensure accountability under international law, adding that harm to a World Heritage Site is a matter of global concern.

“The Temple of Preah Vihear is, and will remain, a monument of peace, culture and shared human heritage,” the ministry said.