The expert pointed out the need for ASEAN to intervene in the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) needs to intervene in the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. Elena Fomicheva, senior researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences and chief specialist on Thailand in Russia, said this in an interview with Izvestia on July 24.

She stressed that the current conflict has deep historical roots.

"The deepest reason is colonialism. When Cambodia was part of French Indochina, a colony of France, Thailand was an independent state with a border there. The border was drawn in such a way that there were several documents, maps and solutions. There was no delimitation of the border as such, therefore, periodically, they have already had conflicts over disputed territories several times," Fomicheva said.

The expert also emphasized the importance of ASEAN's role in resolving this situation, calling on the parties to the conflict to negotiate and meet to find a solution.

Egor Dibrov, a political scientist at the Lomonosov Moscow State University Faculty of Political Science, added that the deterioration of relations between Thailand and Cambodia could not only undermine the stability of ASEAN, but also create an opportunity for intervention by external powers such as the United States, Great Britain, France and Spain.

"It is important for the ASEAN countries to unite and work together to solve traditional and non-traditional security challenges. Russia, having a neutral status in the region and strong negotiating positions, can offer to become a mediator in freezing the clashes between Thailand and Cambodia," concluded Dibrov.

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An armed clash took place between Thailand and Cambodia on the morning of July 24. Then the servicemen of both sides accused each other of firing the first shots. Later, the Thai authorities decided to close the border crossings with Cambodia. On the same day, the governors of Thailand's four provinces bordering Cambodia announced the evacuation of residents.

The conflict between the two countries escalated back in May during a shootout between Thai and Cambodian soldiers at the border. The reason for the escalation was the disputes between Thailand and Cambodia concerning two border territories with ancient monuments of Khmer architecture — the temples of Phraehvihea and Ta Moan Thom.

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