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Brendan Cole
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Thailand can draw on far greater military resources than Cambodia according to an assessment on the countries’ armed forces, after hostilities reignited along their disputed border months after President Donald Trump touted a ceasefire.
Thailand launched airstrikes along the border on Monday less than two months after a Trump-brokered truce that both sides accused the other of breaching, leading to tens of thousands of people fleeing their homes.
Thailand’s military is ranked the 25th biggest in the world, according to 2025 assessment by Global Firepower, far above Cambodia’s ranking of 95th, with the latter having less than half Thailand’s military personnel numbers.
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Anugya Chitransh, Lead Security Analyst for Southeast Asia at security firm International SOS told Newsweek on Monday that Thailand's military is also more advanced and better funded than Cambodia's.
Newsweek has contacted the Cambodian and Thai governments for comment.
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Why It Matters
Thailand's military said it launched airstrikes along border with Cambodia on Monday as both sides accused the other of breaking the ceasefire brokered by Trump.
While there is no talk of an all-out war, tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border have fled their homes following a resumption in hostilities, which has prompted concern over the security implications for the region.
Meanwhile, the White House told Newsweek in a statement that Trump "was committed to the continued cessation of violence."
What To Know
Assessments of the two South East Asian nation's military capabilities, including their total personnel and budget, show that Thailand has a more advanced military than Cambodia’s, with advantages in air power, naval capabilities and defense spending.
Based on data collected in January 2025, the Global Firepower website ranked Thailand 25th out of 145 countries, and third among ASEAN countries, behind Indonesia and Vietnam. By contrast, Cambodia’s global ranking is 95th and eighth in ASEAN.
Thailand has a total of 585,850 personnel, of which 360,850 are in active duty, 200,000 reserves and 25,000 in the paramilitary, according to Global Firepower.
Thailand’s total personnel numbers are more than twice Cambodia’s of 231,000, of which 221,000 are in active duty and 10,000 are paramilitary.
Thailand’s defense budget at around $5.89 billion, is more than seven times Cambodia’s $860 million. At 644 to 635, Cambodia has slightly more tanks but Thailand has many more armored fighting vehicles than Cambodia—16,935 to 3,627.
Meanwhile, Thailand has 493 military aircraft compared with Cambodia’s 25, with Bangkok operating modern fighter jets like the Saab Gripen and F-16s, plus transport aircraft and helicopters. Where Phnom Penh does have more numbers are rocket projectors, with 463 to 26, suggesting its priority is artillery and ground-based firepower.
Cambodia has benefited from military assistance from China, which has upgraded equipment but most of its arsenal consists of older Soviet-era equipment and basic infantry systems, a different defense website, Military Power Rankings said this year.
But Cambodia operates only a handful of transport aircraft and helicopters, with no modern fighters or strike platforms, while naval capacity is limited to coastal patrol boats, it said.
Cambodia is focused on regime protection, rural stability, and defense cooperation with Beijing and other ASEAN countries, the website added.
The Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF) was a large but unevenly modernized force focused on territorial defense, internal stability, and regional deterrence, Military Power Rankings said. Despite extensive manpower, Thailand suffers from procurement delays and platform obsolescence, the site added.
In the current conflict, Chitransh from International SOS said that Thailand is likely to conduct more precision airstrikes against Cambodian military targets while Cambodia will rely on its ground forces and artillery.
What People Are Saying
Thai newspaper The Nation reported that Thailand "maintains a more extensive and technologically advanced military compared to Cambodia…however, Cambodia's substantial number of rocket projectors suggests a focus on artillery and ground-based firepower."
**Anugya Chitransh, lead security analyst for Southeast Asia at security firm International SOS, told Newsweek: "**Overall, if this conflict is prolonged, Thailand's military is more advanced and better funded than Cambodia’s. We anticipate Thailand to conduct more precision airstrikes against Cambodian military targets. Cambodia will rely on its ground forces and artillery."
The White House in a statement said: "President Trump is committed to the continued cessation of violence and expects the governments of Cambodia and Thailand to fully honor their commitments to end this conflict."
What Happens Next
Cambodia's government says that seven civilians have been killed and 20 injured, while Thailand says at least three of its soldiers have died in the fighting.
Chitransh told Newsweek both sides will try to restrict artillery shelling and fighting to disputed sites, located in the Thai provinces of Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket and Sa Kaeo and Cambodia's Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey and Banteay Meanchey provinces.
However, peripheral impact is highly possible since multiple villages are located along the international border, Chitransh added.
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