Thailand Airstrikes Cambodia, Tensions Flare After Trump-Brokered Ceasefire
December 8, 2025
Thailand launched airstrikes against Cambodia on Monday, raising new tensions between the two countries. This comes weeks after US President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire in Malaysia in October. Both countries fought briefly last month. They accuse each other of starting the latest clashes along their disputed border, which resulted in the death of a Thai soldier.
Looking at their military power, Cambodia's army is the biggest part of its forces with about 75,000 soldiers. It has over 200 tanks and 480 artillery guns. Cambodia’s defence budget was $1.3 billion in 2024.
Thailand spends much more — $5.73 billion last year. Its army has around 245,000 soldiers, including 115,000 conscripts. It boasts roughly 400 tanks, over 1,200 armored vehicles, and about 2,600 artillery pieces. The Thai army also operates US-made Black Hawk helicopters, passenger planes, and many drones.
In the air, Thailand’s air force is one of Southeast Asia's best-equipped. It has 46,000 personnel and 112 combat aircraft, including 28 F-16 fighters and 11 Swedish Gripen jets, plus multiple helicopters. Cambodia’s much smaller air force counts 1,500 personnel and has 10 transport planes and 10 helicopters, but no fighter jets. Instead, Cambodia uses 16 multi-role helicopters including older Soviet and Chinese models.
At sea, Thailand dominates with nearly 70,000 naval personnel. Its navy includes an aircraft carrier, seven frigates, 68 patrol ships, amphibious vehicles, and a marine corps of 23,000 troops equipped with armored vehicles. Cambodia’s navy is much smaller with 2,800 personnel, 13 patrol vessels, and one amphibious landing craft.
The recent airstrikes risk undoing the peace deal brokered by Trump. Both neighbors now face a fragile and tense stand-off with unequal military strengths.
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Thailand
Cambodia
Border conflict
Military Strength
Airstrikes
Trump Peace Deal
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