Phnom penh: Cambodia is gripped with anxiety following the landslide victory of Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's Bhumjaithai Party in the recent general election. Analysts are cautioning that this development is reigniting tensions along the border, with potential for serious conflict.

According to Thai News Agency, Cambodian political analysts have raised a top-level warning about the impact of Anutin's victory. The analysts point to the nationalist rhetoric and unresolved territorial disputes as critical factors, suggesting that the situation is a ticking time bomb that could destabilize relations between the two nations.

Kin Phea, Director of the Institute of International Relations at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, highlighted the nationalist fervor among Thai voters that fueled the Bhumjaithai Party's success. He warned of an uncertain post-election atmosphere, with an increased risk of armed clashes along the border. Phea cautioned that such conflicts could harm the Thai economy, create social instability, and invite international pressure for intervention. He advised Cambodia to prepare for all scenarios to safeguard its sovereignty and national dignity.

The analyst stressed that Thailand's ambitions towards Cambodia remain unchanged, regardless of the ruling political party. Consequently, Cambodia must rely on its own capabilities. Thong Mengdavid, an expert from the University of Phnom Penh, noted that Thai political actors often use border disputes to legitimize military actions or divert attention from internal issues, with Cambodia frequently becoming a "victim" in these political maneuvers.

Despite the need for a coalition government in Thailand to secure a majority of 251 seats, Meng David warns that Anutin's confrontational rhetoric, if maintained, will ensure that the Cambodian-Thai border issue remains a persistent obstacle to regional peace and stability.