Thailand and Cambodia: Border Dispute To Continue Despite ICJ Ruling

The International Court of Justice has ruled in favor of ordering Thai and Cambodian troops to withdraw from a disputed area along their border. The withdrawal is unlikely to happen for several reasons. First, the ICJ has no enforcement mechanism, so it cannot compel either country to obey its order. More important, domestic political considerations in both countries will cause tensions at the border to remain high, despite the new Thai government's wish for a more conciliatory approach in dealing with its neighbor.