As part of his statement at the General Debate of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly United Nations Headquarters, New York, on 27 September 2025, Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, spoke about the current Thailand-Cambodia border situation, as follows:

“And even among closest neighbors, disputes can arise. Admittedly, the current situation with Cambodia is neither desirable nor in the interests of either side. Our peace, stability and prosperity are closely intertwined. We cannot move away from one another. We are part of the same ASEAN family. 

“This morning, I intended to say something different and positive, reflecting hope for the future but I had to rewrite the speech because of the most regrettable remarks by my Cambodian colleague. To my dismay, Cambodia continues to present itself as the victim. Time and time again, it has portrayed its own version of the facts, which does not hold up to scrutiny because it is simply a distortion of the truth.

“We know who are the real victims: they are Thai soldiers who have lost their legs from landmines, children whose schools were shelled, and innocent civilians who were shopping that day at the grocery store that came under attack from Cambodian rocket fire.

“Yesterday, I met my Cambodian colleague at the very hall of the United Nations. We talked about peace, dialogue, mutual trust, and confidence. This was emphasized later at the informal 4-party consultations organized by the United States. We appreciate President Trump’s dedication to peace.

“But, unfortunately, what was said today by the Cambodian side was completely opposite to what was said yesterday at the meeting. It reveals the true intention of Cambodia. The allegations were so far-fetched that they make a mockery of the truth. 

“From the beginning, Cambodia initiated the conflict with the intention to expand a border dispute into a national conflict, and to further internationalize it as was the case again this morning. 

“The villages referred to by my Cambodian colleague earlier are in Thai territory, full stop. In fact, they exist because Thailand made the humanitarian decision to open up our borders in the late 1970s for hundreds of thousand Cambodian fleeing the civil war in their country to seek shelter in Thailand. We made this decision out of compassion and humanitarian principles. As a young diplomat, I witnessed that scene myself.

“Although the civil war has ended and the shelters were closed, the Cambodian villages have expanded over the decades. And despite Thailand’s repeated protests, Cambodia has ignored those requests to address this encroachment. 

“And when that peace returned to Cambodia after the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements, we were there to rebuild and to rehabilitate the Cambodian nation to sustain peace. We built homes, roads, and hospitals because peace in Cambodia is in Thailand’s interest. This is what neighbors should do for one another. 

“The ceasefire is still fragile. We must make it work. This demands commitment and sincere actions from both sides.

“Regrettably, Cambodia’s continued provocations, including the mobilization of civilians into Thai territory and recent firings toward our side, undermine peace and stability along the border. I am referring to a series of incidents since 23 September of Cambodian troops’ firing at Thai troops stationed along the border. The most recent incident happened just today. Thai troops have also continued to detect Cambodian surveillance drones, intruding into Thai territory on a daily basis across the border areas. These actions constitute a violation of Thailand’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the ceasefire agreement reached at the special meeting in Putrajaya, Malaysia, and reaffirmed at the bilateral border committee meetings. 

“And let there be no doubt that Thailand has always, and will always stand for peace, and will do everything we can to find a peaceful solution to the current problem with Cambodia. At the same time, Thailand will always stand firm and resolute in the defense of our sovereignty and territorial integrity. We urge Cambodia to work with us in resolving differences through peaceful dialogue and existing mechanisms. 

“Today, our two countries face a defining choice. As a close neighbor and as a friend, we must ask Cambodia which path they wish to take — the path of continued confrontation or the path of peace and cooperation.

“Thailand chooses the path of peace because we believe that the people of both countries deserve no less. But we really question whether it is the intention of Cambodia to join us in the pursuit for peace.

“For Thailand, dialogue, trust, and good faith are not just words — they are the way forward. We will continue to uphold these principles in our engagements with partners in ASEAN and beyond, including major powers, in pursuit of sustainable peace and shared prosperity.”