US issues new travel alerts for Cambodia and Thailand
The U.S. government has updated its travel advisories for Cambodia and Thailand due to recent violence and rising tensions along their shared border. Although a ceasefire has now been reached, the long-standing territorial dispute between the two nations recently escalated into armed conflict, prompting emergency evacuations and a reassessment of travel risks.
Key Updates
The U.S. State Department has raised the travel warning for both Cambodia and Thailand from Level 1 ('Exercise normal precautions') to Level 2 ('Exercise increased caution'). For areas within 50 kilometers (30 miles) of the Cambodia-Thailand border, the alert is now at Level 4 – the most severe – advising U.S. citizens to avoid all travel due to active fighting and threats to civilian safety.
Background on the Conflict
The current hostilities stem from an old border dispute, but recent developments have intensified the situation. According to Morgan Stark from S-RM, a geopolitical and cyber risk consultancy, Thai efforts to dismantle organized scam operations – allegedly based in Cambodia – may have triggered the escalation. Pictured: A Cambodian soldier stands on a truck carrying a Russian-made BM-21 rocket launcher travelling along a street in Oddar Meanchey province on July 25, 2025.
US issues new travel alerts for Cambodia and Thailand
Thailand claims Cambodian drones initiated the conflict by surveying Thai military positions. Cambodia counters that Thailand violated a prior agreement by encroaching on a sensitive religious site. The violence erupted after a landmine explosion injured five Thai soldiers. Pictured: Thai soldiers inspect a border area on Sunday, July 20, 2025, in Ubon Ratchathani province.
Why This Matters
The border between Cambodia and Thailand, a 500-mile line historically mapped by French colonial powers, has long been contentious. However, this latest outbreak of violence has resulted in at least 32 deaths and the evacuation of more than 80,000 people across both countries. Pictured: Cambodian soldiers reload the BM-21 multiple rocket launcher in Preah Vihear province on July 24, 2025.
Travel and Safety Information
The U.S. State Department warns that due to the ongoing armed conflict, its ability to assist citizens in the affected areas is limited. The department urges travelers to avoid the border region entirely and to be vigilant throughout both countries.
Thailand and Cambodia have both placed blame on each other for the outbreak. Each has issued strong public statements condemning the other’s actions, and the situation remains volatile.
