Cambodia Halts Thai Fuel Imports as Diplomatic Rift Deepens

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KT

 

Tensions between Cambodia and Thailand have erupted into a full-blown diplomatic and economic standoff, with Cambodia announcing a nationwide halt to fuel and gas imports from Thailand starting midnight Sunday.

 

The dramatic move, confirmed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on social media, marks the sharpest escalation in weeks of rising friction. The crisis began after a leaked phone call between Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra surfaced, triggering a wave of political and public backlash in both countries.

 

The leaked audio — initially released in part, then in full by Hun Sen himself — revealed Paetongtarn urging him to ignore interference from Thai military figures and calling for calm amid growing unrest at home. But rather than defusing the row, it inflamed it.

 

Thailand’s foreign ministry swiftly lodged a formal complaint, accusing Cambodia of violating diplomatic norms. Bangkok then recalled its ambassador for “consultations”, while insisting ties remain intact. Meanwhile, Thai political figures began calling for retaliatory economic measures, including halting oil exports to Cambodia.

 

One opposition figure, Koraksiwat Kasemsri, claimed Cambodia would “collapse within a month” without Thai fuel — a comment that drew fierce rebuke from Hun Sen, who warned that such a move would damage Thailand’s own state-owned energy giant, PTT.

 

“Try it and see,” Hun Sen dared, threatening to phase out Thai imports altogether. He also reminded Thailand of its reliance on Cambodian migrant labour, warning of dire consequences for Thai businesses if workers were withdrawn.

 

In response, Cambodia moved first. Hun Manet’s fuel ban followed new restrictions from Thailand on Cambodian cassava imports — ostensibly to protect Thai farmers, but widely seen as retaliatory.

 

Economists warn the tit-for-tat actions could backfire. Cambodia, they argue, can source fuel from firms like Caltex and TotalEnergies, while Thailand’s lucrative exports to its neighbour — particularly petroleum products — could suffer long-term losses.

 

With both sides refusing to back down, the once-stable border relationship now teeters on the edge of a prolonged and costly rupture.

 

-2025-06-23