Press Briefing: Update on the Development of the Situation between Cambodia and Thailand
11:00 AM, January 18, 2026
Intervention by H.E. Pen Bona, Royal Government Spokesperson
Samdech, Excellency, ladies and Gentlemen, Good morning!
The Royal government Spokesperson would like to inform the general public, national and international, as follow:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, through Press Release, dated 17 January 2026, registers Cambodia’s strong protest against the actions undertaken by the Thai armed forces that alter the security environment in or around civilian areas, consolidate military control, or create new facts on the ground, thereby directly undermining de-escalation efforts and hindering the safe and dignified return of civilians to their homes and properties. This includes laying barbed wire in the area of Thmor Da International Point of Entry of Pursat Province of Cambodia on 16 January 2026. Such actions raise serious concerns over Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and are inconsistent with the de-escalation measure set out in Item I of the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) of 27 December 2025.
It is important to highlight that the Joint Statement of 27 December 2025 was agreed upon as a comprehensive and mutually reinforcing framework with the primary objective to de-escalate the situation, protect and restore normal civilian life, and peaceful resolution of disputes, and not to entrench military presence.
In this context, Cambodia calls on Thailand to fully and in good faith implement all the provisions of the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special GBC Meeting of 27 December 2025, and relevant agreements. Cambodia reaffirms its commitment to resolving border and boundary issues with Thailand peacefully, in accordance with international law and existing bilateral agreements, while firmly upholding the principle that borders must not be altered by force.
The Spokesperson for the Royal Government of Cambodia would like to re-emphasize that Cambodia maintains a firm position in safeguarding the Cambodia-Thailand international boundary as inherited from the Commission of Delimitation of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam, in full respect of international law principles, the principle of intangibility of frontiers (Uti Possidetis Juris), the Franco-Siamese conventions and treaties, the maps, and the procès-verbaux of the Commission of the Abornement of the Boundary between Indo-China and Siam, as well as all relevant agreements and documents mutually agreed upon by both parties. Cambodia will not recognize any alteration of the boundary line resulting from the use of force.
