The Global Story Why Trump’s Thailand-Cambodia peace deal unravelled
Dec 15, 2025
Jonathan Head, BBC Southeast Asia correspondent based in Bangkok, provides crucial insights into the recent conflict on the Thai-Cambodian border. He reveals the complex historic roots of the dispute and how social media has exacerbated nationalist feelings. Head explains the fragile nature of the recent ceasefire, spurred by Trump’s intervention. He discusses the political tensions igniting fighting, the limitations of presidential influence, and stresses that sustainable peace requires thoughtful diplomacy and economic incentives.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Life In A Border Town Under Fire
- Jonathan Head describes Surin as a border town transformed by displacement and military presence.
- He notes emptied villages, concrete bunkers, and constant artillery and rocket sounds near the frontline.
Colonial Maps Fuel Modern Grievances
- The border dispute dates to colonial-era cartography and unfinished post-colonial demarcation.
- Small, forested slivers of land carry outsized symbolic weight tied to national narratives and pride.
Local Identities And Social Media Stoke Nationalism
- Border communities largely identify as Thai but speak Khmer and maintain cross-border ties.
- Social media has intensified nationalist sentiment, making reconciliation harder than in past clashes.