Thailand-Cambodia border conflict

Thailand's government clubs Gripen purchase for 6 billion

The Thai government has approved the purchase of four new Gripen planes. This is reported by Thai media, according to DI.

It was in June that Saab announced that Thailand had chosen Gripen instead of American F-16s. The purchase, which now appears to have been approved, will correspond to 5.9 billion kronor and will be delivered by 2029, writes DI.

The newspaper further writes that Thailand will purchase an additional eight Gripen planes for the equivalent of 18 billion kronor, which will be delivered in two phases up to and including 2035

At the end of July, Thailand announced that it had used Gripen planes to attack Cambodia.

Cambodia and Thailand in talks after border fighting

Representatives of Thailand and Cambodia will meet on Monday in Malaysia to discuss the situation at the border between the countries, Reuters reports. A fragile ceasefire began a week ago after five days of border shelling.

The talks in Malaysia will focus on how the ceasefire can be maintained. Further talks will be held on Thursday. 

The border conflict — the issue

• Armed fighting broke out between Thailand and Cambodia on the border on 24 July, resulting in at least 35 deaths and over 200,000 people being displaced.
• A ceasefire was agreed after talks in Malaysia on 28 July, but accusations of ceasefire violations continued from both sides.
• The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting and called for a de-escalation, while both countries accused each other of violating humanitarian norms and the ceasefire.
• Vapenvila slöts efter samtal i Malaysia den 28 juli, men anklagelser om brott mot vapenvilan fortsatte från båda sidor.
• The conflict has historical roots in a disputed border demarcation from 1907 and has repeatedly led to violent clashes.