Thailand Maintains Border Closure with Cambodia Pending Diplomatic Recovery

Brickinfo News Agency – Thai Interior Minister and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has officially dismissed rumors regarding the reopening of border crossings in Chanthaburi and Trat provinces, asserting that no such policy currently exists. The Thai government maintains that any movement toward reopening the Thailand-Cambodia border is premature and must be preceded by a formal restoration of full diplomatic relations between the two nations, which currently remain at a functional minimum.

The clarification follows reports of increasing pressure and requests from the Cambodian side to resume cross-border activities. Minister Anutin confirmed that he has received no formal reports or appointments for negotiations with Cambodian representatives. He emphasized that the status of the border checkpoints in these specific eastern provinces remains closed, and there are currently no items on the government’s agenda to reconsider this stance.

Regarding the coordination process, Anutin noted that any official communication from Phnom Penh must be directed through formal diplomatic channels. He highlighted the current skeletal state of diplomacy between the neighbors to underscore the distance yet to be covered. “At present, full diplomacy is non-existent; only staff remain to watch over the embassies. Everything must follow a step-by-step process. Before reaching any other point, the restoration of relations must begin first,” Anutin stated.

The diplomatic atmosphere remains sensitive following reports from the Khmer Times, where Chea Therith, personal spokesperson for Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, denied rumors of back-channel apologies regarding a leaked audio clip. These rumors suggested that an apology had been sent to high-ranking Thai military figures via close associates to pave the way for the return of the Cambodian Ambassador to Bangkok.

The Cambodian spokesperson categorized such reports as “fake news” orchestrated by extremist groups in Thailand to incite misunderstanding against Cambodian leadership. As bilateral relations remain in a fragile state, the Thai government continues to monitor the situation closely, prioritizing national security and formal protocol over immediate economic reopening in the border regions of Chanthaburi and Trat.