Whereas the Thai government is neutral on the war with Iran, the Thai military would prefer to use this opportunity to extinguish Cambodia’s military and execute their own regime change.
The war in Iran is both cover for future Thai military aggression and a distraction for world powers in what occurs in the Southeast Asian region.
Given these circumstances, it would not be surprising if there is another outbreak of conflict between Cambodia and Thailand. It is possible that the only thing that probably prevents the Thai military from moving forward is history. Cambodians have a history of being tough to deal with. The Khmer Rouge proved this in fighting for decades.
YOUK CHHANG
Director
Documentation Center of Cambodia
March 2, 2026
