Military Buildup Near Poipet Raises Regional Concerns July 26, 2025 Sa Kaeo Province, Thailand Thailand has

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📰 Military Buildup Near Poipet Raises Regional Concerns
🗓️ July 26, 2025
📍Sa Kaeo Province, Thailand

📄Thailand has intensified military activity near its eastern border, with the Royal Thai Army’s 1st Army Region deploying main battle tanks and armored vehicles toward the vicinity of the Poipet border crossing. The move comes amid heightened tensions with Cambodia following recent border incidents.

Reports confirm the mobilization of several M60A3 main battle tanks and BTR-3E1 armored personnel carriers along the Aranyaprathet–Rong Kluea Market corridor. The operation is spearheaded by the elite 2nd Infantry Division, Queen’s Guard, known locally as the “Burapha Phayak” (Eastern Tigers).

According to military sources, the forces have positioned within a 20-kilometer radius of the Poipet checkpoint, establishing a strategic buffer zone in response to increased Cambodian military presence near disputed areas such as Ta Kwai Temple and Chong Bok Pass.

Regional analysts view this as the first direct forward deployment by the 1st Army Region in years, contrasting with prior support roles. The maneuver underscores a shift from reactive posturing to a more assertive stance in defense of territorial integrity.

The Thai side aims to deter potential cross-border incursions and to preemptively secure areas identified as high-risk. Cambodian military forces have concurrently reinforced positions around Hill 641, Phu Makheu Temple, and rocket artillery bases believed to host BM-21 Grad launchers.

This escalation follows prolonged friction over border demarcations and concerns surrounding irregular activities in the Poipet area, including illicit labor flows, transnational criminal networks, and unregulated economic zones.

While full-scale conflict remains unlikely, the situation could rapidly deteriorate if diplomatic efforts stall. Both sides are under pressure to demonstrate resolve domestically, which may limit flexibility at the negotiating table. Border stability will largely hinge on the success of upcoming military-to-military dialogue and regional mediation efforts.

The Thai military’s movement near Poipet signals more than tactical positioning; it reflects a calculated effort to deny the use of grey-zone economic hubs by hostile elements and to project strategic readiness amid shifting regional dynamics.

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Reported from Sa Kaeo, Thailand – World News War Correspondence Desk

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