THE THAI–CAMBODIAN DISPUTE: THE SITUATION IN 2025 FROM A GEOPOLITICAL PERSPECTIVE ON OVERLAPPING TERRITORIAL AREAS

Abstract

The academic article “The Thai–Cambodian Dispute: The Current Situation in 2025 from a Geopolitical Perspective on Overlapping Areas” aims to examine the development of the Thai–Cambodian border dispute during 2017–2025. It focuses on an analysis through the lens of geopolitics, particularly the relationship between state power and resources in overlapping territories—both the land area surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple and adjacent zones, as well as the maritime overlapping claims in the Gulf of Thailand, which hold significant energy potential. The article also proposes sustainable solutions for both countries.

The findings indicate that, although the 2013 judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) provided guidelines for interpreting the boundary around the Preah Vihear Temple, ambiguities remain in practice regarding the exact demarcation, the management of the area, and the modalities of joint utilization. Meanwhile, the overlapping maritime area continues to be a sensitive issue involving both economic and security interests, with each country employing geopolitical strategies to safeguard national interests.

In addition, the article highlights the influence of external factors, such as shifts in the balance of power in Southeast Asia and the expanding influence of major powers, both of which affect the diplomatic postures of Thailand and Cambodia. The resolution of the dispute, therefore, should emphasize constructive diplomacy, sustainable cross-border resource management, and strengthening ASEAN’s role as a central mechanism to transform overlapping areas into “zones of cooperation” rather than zones of conflict.