Cambodia has announced that it will stop all fuel imports from Thailand, effective midnight on Sunday, June 22, 2025, due to a simmering border dispute between the two countries. Prime Minister Hun Manet made the announcement on social media, stating that energy companies would be able to “import sufficiently from other sources to meet domestic fuel and gas demands” in the country.
The decision comes after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a disputed border area last month, leading to a deterioration in relations between the two nations. The border dispute has a long history, with Cambodia and Thailand contesting sovereignty at various un-demarcated points along their 817km land border, which was first mapped by France when it colonized Cambodia in 1907.
In response to the announcement, Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said that her government would seek to maintain political stability to address threats to national security. Following a meeting with her coalition partners, she stated, “The country must move forward. Thailand must unite and push policies to solve problems for the people.” However, a rally has been called for June 28 to demand that Paetongtarn resign.
The border dispute has led to several measures being taken by both countries to secure their borders, including closures of border checkpoints and crossings. Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry has also urged its citizens not to travel to Thailand unnecessarily, while Thailand’s consular affairs department has warned Thais in Cambodia to avoid “protest areas”.
The tension between the two countries escalated after a leaked phone call between Paetongtarn and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, who remains a powerful influence in Cambodia. During the call, Paetongtarn told Hun Sen that she was under domestic pressure and urged him not to listen to “the opposite side”, including a prominent Thai military commander at the border. The leak led to a major coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party, quitting the ruling alliance, overshadowing Paetongtarn’s premiership.
Over 5,000 Cambodians are leaving Thailand every day to return home, with the General Department of Immigration saying they will receive support from the government regardless of their documentation status. The Cambodian government has also imposed import bans on Thai fruit and vegetables, television soap operas, electricity, and internet connections.