Cambodian PM says Thailand occupying ‘deep’ territory after ceasefire

Hun Manet calls for border demarcation and says US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace could ‘play a role’.Published On 18 Feb 2026Thailand continues to occupy parts of Cambodia after multiple ceasefire agreements ended months of deadly fighting late last year, Cambodia’s prime minister has said.“We still have Thai forces occupy[ing] deep into Cambodian territory in many areas. This is further beyond even Thailand’s own unilateral claim,” Hun Manet said in an interview with the Reuters news agency on Tuesday while travelling to Washington, DC, to attend a meeting of United States President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4US to support Cambodian-Thai ceasefire with $45m aid pledgelist 2 of 4Ancient Khmer temples scarred by Thailand-Cambodia conflictlist 3 of 4Will pro-military message bring Thailand’s ‘most hawkish’ party to power?list 4 of 4Thailand’s Bhumjaithai set for coalition talks after surprise election winend of list“This is not an accusation, but it’s a statement of the facts on the ground,” he said in his first interview with international media since taking over as prime minister from his father in 2023.Thailand did not immediately respond to the claims. Thai military officials have previously said operations were limited to reclaiming areas within Thai territory.Thai troops placed shipping containers and barbed wire inside areas that Thailand had previously recognised as Cambodian territory, he said, rendering about 80,000 people unable to return home.The alleged encroachment occurred after Cambodia and Thailand’s protracted border conflict last year killed dozens and displaced hundreds of thousands of people, fuelled nationalistic rhetoric and destroyed ancient temple sites.Al Jazeera reporting and independent mapping efforts have shown the presence of Thai-placed shipping containers and barbed wire in several provinces, including Pursat and Banteay Meanchey.Hun Manet called upon Thailand to begin border demarcation through the countries’ Joint Boundary Commission process, which lagged before Thailand’s national elections that saw a decisive win for Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Bhumjaithai Party.