Cambodia Urgently Calls on UN Security Council to Act as Thai Military Aggression Escalates
The Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the United Nations, H.E. Keo Chhea
NEW YORK, 10 December 2025 — The Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the United Nations has issued an urgent and strongly worded appeal to the UN Security Council, warning of a series of unprovoked, unlawful, and escalating acts of armed aggression by the Thai Armed Forces along the Cambodian border.
Acting on instructions from the Royal Government, the Mission detailed a sweeping timeline of assaults carried out since 7 December, involving heavy weapons, mortars, tanks, drones, warplanes, toxic smoke, and indiscriminate bombardments on both military positions and civilian areas. Cambodian provinces including Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, and Battambang have come under intensifying attack.
According to the letter, the Thai military’s actions constitute grave violations of the UN Charter, including the peremptory prohibition on the threat or use of force, and mark serious breaches of international humanitarian law, Cambodia’s sovereignty, and binding bilateral agreements—particularly the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord and established boundary treaties recognized by the International Court of Justice.
The Mission reported severe casualties, destruction of civilian homes and infrastructure, and damage to protected national heritage sites, including the Temple of Preah Vihear. Cambodia underscored that Thailand has deliberately targeted civilian zones, in brazen defiance of humanitarian norms and the requirement to distinguish between civilian and military targets.
Despite ongoing attacks, Cambodia reaffirmed its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes, noting that its armed forces exercised maximum restraint and refrained from retaliation for 24 hours out of respect for the ceasefire and peace accords. However, Cambodia emphasized that it reserves its inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
In its formal appeal, Cambodia urgently requested the Security Council to:
- Condemn Thailand’s unprovoked armed aggression in violation of the UN Charter;
- Demand an immediate halt to all Thai military attacks, including air and artillery operations;
- Require Thailand to stop encroachment based on unilaterally drawn maps and respect international borders;
- Demand full compliance with international humanitarian law, especially protection of civilians;
- Dispatch an independent UN fact-finding mission to investigate Thailand’s violations and civilian harm.
Cambodia stressed that Thailand’s actions pose a clear and present danger to regional peace and security, falling squarely under Articles 34 and 39 of the UN Charter, and warned that the international legal order is at stake.
The letter concludes with an urgent appeal for decisive Security Council action, stating that the credibility of the UN and the authority of the Charter require an immediate response. The Mission requested that the document be circulated officially to all Council members.
This urgent communication represents Cambodia’s strongest diplomatic move yet as hostilities continue to escalate along the border.
