Cambodia halts fuel and gas imports from Thailand as crisis simmers

As relations have slowed to their lowest level in more than a decade after a Cambodian soldier was killed last month in a disputed border region, Cambodia has announced it will stop all imports of fuel from its neighbor, Thailand.

Hun Manet, the prime minister, made the announcement on Sunday by posting a message on social media stating that it would become effective at midnight.

Energy companies “will be able to import sufficiently from other sources to meet domestic fuel and gas demands” in the nation, according to Manet.

Separately, Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry urged its citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to Thailand on Sunday. Thailand’s consular affairs department is also advising foreigners visiting Cambodia to stay away from “protest areas.”

A Cambodian soldier was killed in a brief exchange of gunfire in the disputed border area last month, prompting the two countries’ ongoing conflict.

Cambodia and Thailand have fought for sovereignty at various undisturbed locations along their 817 km (508-mile) land border, which France first mapped when it colonized Cambodia in 1907.

The two nations have since announced the closure of border checkpoints and crossings in response to the soldier’s passing, but they have also taken several steps to secure their borders.

phone call that was leaked

After a leaked phone call between Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Hun Sen, a former leader of Cambodia, on Wednesday, the border dispute sparked further political unrest.

The Thai prime minister informed Hun Sen during the call that a prominent Thai military commander was reportedly under domestic pressure and that he should not listen to “the other side,” which included a prominent Thai military commander who is based at the border.

Soon after the leak, Paetongtarn’s leadership was overshadowed by a significant coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party, who abruptly left the ruling coalition.

However, the Thai leader claimed on Sunday that all coalition partners had pledged support for her government, which she claimed would work to maintain political stability in response to threats to national security.

She stated in a meeting with her coalition partners that “the country must advance.” Thailand must work together to promote policies that address the country’s problems.