On July 23, Thailand carried out airstrikes on Cambodian military positions near their long-disputed border, intensifying already high tensions between the two Southeast Asian nations. In response, Cambodia vowed to “respond decisively.” Just hours earlier, clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces erupted in several border areas. According to the Thai army, Cambodian attacks have killed at least 12 people so far and injured more than a dozen in Thailand, including an eight-year-old boy.
The escalation followed an incident the previous day in which a Thai soldier lost a leg to a landmine near the border. The blast triggered a sharp deterioration in diplomatic relations, with both Bangkok and Phnom Penh downgrading ties to their lowest point in years.
The Thailand–Cambodia conflict is one example of how long-standing rivalries between nations can spiral into violence. Across the world, historical disputes, border disagreements, and political tensions have fueled some of the most enduring international rivalries.
So, which countries have the greatest rivalries? Click through and read about the issues dividing these nations.