The deadly conflict on the Thai-Cambodian border has an old ally of the United States with decades of experience against a relatively young armed force with close ties with China.
Bangkok and Phnom Penh are fighting for territory that is disputed since colonial power France pulled the border between them more than a century ago.
Collisions continued until Saturday, according to officials on both sides. More than a dozen people have been killed, dozens of injured and more than 150,000 citizens evacuated since the fighting started on Thursday.
Here is a look at the history and possibilities of the two parties.
Numbers prefer Thailand
The military dwarfs of Thailand that of neighboring Cambodia, both in staff and in weapons.
Thailand's total of 361,000 active staff staff spread throughout all branches of the kingdom's army, three times from Cambodia. And those troops have their Cambodian counterparts available.
“Thailand has a large, well-funded army and its Air Force is one of the best-equipped and trained in Southeast Asia,” wrote the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in its “Military Balance 2025” to the forces of the world.
In the meantime, a 2024 ranking of the military capacities of 27 regional countries by the Lowy Institute Thailand is installed on 14th, to Cambodia's 23rd.
US Air Force Personnel runs past aircraft that can be seen in the 88th Royal Air Force Anniversary Air Show from Thailand on March 7, 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. – Lauren Decicca/Getty –
Such inequality may be to be expected, since Thailand has four times as many people as Cambodia, and a GDP more than 10 times larger. In contrast to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, it escaped the destruction of the wars that the region flooded in the second half of the 20th century, and the European colonialism that preceded them.
In general, with factors such as military, economic, diplomatic and cultural power weighed in the Lowy Asia Power Index, Thailand is arranged in 10th place, considered a middle power, just behind Indonesia, but for countries such as Malaysia and Vietnam.
Lowy ranks Cambodia as a small power in Asia, grouped with countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Laos.
Thailand has strong American ties, global prospects
The army of Thailand has long been an important player in the politics of the Kingdom. The country has been dominated for years by a conservative establishment that includes the army, monarchy and influential elites.
Generals have seized power since 1932 in 20 coups, which often overthrow democratic governments, according to the CIA World Factbook, and the army portrays itself as the ultimate defender of the monarchy.
Thailand is an ally of the United States, a status that goes back to the signing of the Southeast -Asia Collective Defense Treaty, also known as the Manila Pact, in 1954, according to the US Department of Foreign Affairs.
During the war in Vietnam, Thailand American Air Force Assets organized on some air bases, including B-52 bombers, and tens of thousands of Thai troops fought on the side of the US-Vietnam supported by the US against the Communist North.
US B-52 bombers operated from air bases in Thailand during the war in Vietnam. – Images of History/Universal Images Group Editorial/Getty Images
Strong ties between Washington and Bangkok have passed. Thailand is classified by the US as an important non-NAVO ally, so that it has special benefits that have enabled it to gain access to tens of years of American support for his weapon programs.
Thailand and the US Indo-Pacific Command Co-Gastheer The annual Cobra Gold Military Practice, which started in 1982 as joint exercises at the US, but has since added dozens of other participants. It is the longest -running international military exercise in the world, according to the US Army.
In addition to Cobra Gold, Thai and American troops have more than 60 exercises together, and more than 900 American planes and 40 naval vessels visit Thailand annually, says the US Department of Foreign Affairs.
Despite all that history with Washington, the Thai army nowadays tries to maintain a more neutral approach to military policy, increasing the ties with China in the past decade.
Because it does not want to rely on a country as its weapon supplier, it has also developed a strong domestic arms industry, with the help of countries such as Israel, Italy, Russia, South Korea and Sweden, says the “military balance” report.
Chinese support of Cambodia
The army of Cambodia is young compared to that of Thailand, founded in 1993 after the forces of the Communist Government were merged with two non-communist resistance files, according to the Iiss.
“The most important international defensive tires of Cambodia are with China and Vietnam. Despite a traditional dependence on Russia for defense equipment, China has emerged as an important supplier,” says the Iiss.
Beijing has even developed a naval base in Cambodia. According to international analysts, the Ream Naval Base, on the Gulf of Thailand, could organize Chinese aircraft carriers.
Cambodia and China completed the seventh edition of their annual Golden Dragon Joint Military exercise in May, which was advertised as the largest ever and live-Fire training scenarios.
Chinese military staff participates in the Golden Dragon Joint Military Exercise with Cambodia in Svay Chok in the province of Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia, on 30 May 2024. – Kyodo News/Getty Images
It is a relationship that is expected to reach “a new level and new development” this year, according to a report from February on the English -language website of the People's Liberation Army.
“China and Cambodia are friends lined with iron who are always supporting each other. The two soldiers enjoy unbreakable relationships and rock-solid brotherhood,” said spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a press conference in February, when asked about possible gorges in relationships.
Cambodia's military needs support.
“Cambodia is currently missing the opportunity to design and produce modern equipment for its armed forces,” says the IISS report.
Weapons on each side
The Royal Thai Air Force is reinforcing due to years of American support and is well equipped, with at least 11 modern Swedish grip-jets and dozens of older people, F-16 and F-5-Jets made by the US, according to the Iiss. Cambodia has no fighting power to talk about.
On the ground, Thailand has dozens of combat tanks, including 60 modern, Chinese VT-4 tanks and hundreds of older, tanks made by the US. Cambodia has around 200 old Chinese and Soviet-made tanks, shows the 'military balance'.
A Thai amphibious attack vehicle seen during an attack stabbing
The Thai army has more than 600 artillery pieces, including at least 56 powerful 155 mm weapons and more than 550 105 mm dragged guns. Cambodia has only a dozen 155 mm guns with around 400 smaller artillery pieces, according to IISS figures.
In the air, the army has the American Cobra-Esvalsheliopters and 18 American black hawk transports. Cambodia has only a few dozen older Soviet and Chinese transport helicopters.
What comes afterwards
The Hawaii-based military analyst Carl Schuster, a former director of operations in the Joint Intelligence Center of the US Pacific Command, said that although Thailand has the numerical and high-quality military advantage, Cambodia has at least one thing in his advantage of the actual country along the disputed border.
“Site is in favor of access from Cambodian territory to the disputed area,” Schuster told CNN.
And with Cambodian armed forces reportedly laying land mines and booby traps in the disputed area, Thailand can be expected to trust it on longer reach, he said.
“The Royal Thai Air Force is superior and their special troops are superior,” said Schuster. “I think the Thais would rather emphasize the Air Force and Fireck force on long distance in the conflict.”
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