Thailand has announced a ban on all travelers, including tourists, attempting to access Cambodia due to rising tensions linked to a long-standing border dispute. This restriction is enforced at several checkpoints and also applies to foreign tourists planning to fly into Siem Reap. The military stated the restrictions align with the current security situation between the two nations, which has hit a low following violent clashes that left one Cambodian soldier dead in May.
In retaliation, Cambodia has imposed its own restrictions, prohibiting imports from Thailand, including a wide range of goods and media. While the travel ban is strict, exceptions may be made on humanitarian grounds for students or patients, depending on checkpoints’ officials' discretion.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra highlighted the need to tackle illegal scams based in Cambodia and announced measures to restrict internet services used by Cambodian authorities. Thailand has previously enacted similar measures towards Myanmar in response to scam concerns.
The diplomatic spat has deepened political instability for Shinawatra's administration, particularly after a leaked phone call involving her and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, which has drawn criticism and caused a political shakeup within her coalition government. Tensions between these two neighboring countries go back more than a century to the time of French colonial borders, making the current situation all the more complex.
