Thai, Cambodian leaders visit disputed border

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, center, arrives at Government House for a cabinet meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

ARANYAPRATHET, Thailand—The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia are visiting different parts of their disputed land border on Thursday as tensions between the two neighbors simmer over a territorial dispute and the Thai government teeters on the brink of collapse.

The deterioration of relations was sparked by brief armed clashes in a border area late last month that left one Cambodian soldier dead.

What followed were a series of tit-for-tat measures by both countries including troops mobilizations, Cambodia’s suspension of all fuel and gas imports from its neighbor, and the partial closure of checkpoints by Thailand along the 817-kilometer land border.

The conflict has added fuel to a crisis facing Thai Prime Minister

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is battling to revive a faltering economy and scrambling to keep a fragile coalition together in the face of protests as well as a parliamentary no confidence vote.

Border restrictions

As she arrived on Thursday morning at the Thai bordertown of Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaeo province, opposite Cambodia’s Poipet, Paetongtarn was greeted by a crowd of supporters, with several of them holding a large sign saying “Love You Prime Minister Paetongtarn.”

The Prime Minister said the purpose of her visit was to survey the ongoing crackdown on transnational crime and gauge the impact of border restrictions, which saw Thailand halting all vehicles, tourists and traders from all land border crossings into Cambodia.

“We want to see the impact from this policy and what the government can do to help, this is our main goal for the visit today,” Paetongtarn said in a meeting with officials.

Cambodian President of the Senate Hun Sen smiles as he arrives at Victory Day to mark the 46th ouster anniversary of the Khmer Rouge regime that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, , Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith, File)

Online scam centers

The Thai Prime Minister earlier this week linked the proliferation of illegal online scam centers to Cambodia, but Cambodian authorities have denied involvement.

At another part of the border, former Cambodian premier Hun Sen on Thursday morning visited troops and officials in Oddar Meanchey province, opposite the Thai province of Surin.

Local media footage showed Hun Sen, in military fatigues, arriving by helicopter and meeting with officials in the area.

Reuters

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