Prime Minister Hun Manet has explained that Cambodia is waiting to see who holds real power and a clear position in Thailand — someone the Kingdom can trust enough to work with to find a joint solution for the benefit of both countries.
Speaking at a police graduation ceremony in Kandal today, June 26, he stated that a lack of clarity and abrupt inconsistency in Thailand’s government policy — especially the disconnect between the policies declared by Thailand’s political leadership and their implementation on the ground by Thai military forces — has created obstacles to finding a genuine solution.
“I’m waiting to see who truly holds power and has a clear stance in Thailand, someone who can easily and trustfully work together to find a joint solution for the benefit of both countries and peoples,” he said.
“On June 24, the Thai Prime Minister announced the closure of the border, citing a claim by the UN that Cambodia has become a hub for internet-based crime which threatens Thai national security.”
“So she ordered all checkpoints closed, only allowing in students and medical patients. The Thai military began closing border points. Then suddenly, the Thai foreign ministry came out and said Thailand wasn’t closing them. Thailand had them open. The next day, they opened all their checkpoints, unlocked their gates — just to take photos. But the orders still banned people from crossing. So what does this mean?” he asked.
He pointed out that Cambodia has not flip-flopped like Thailand has, maintaining its position of keeping the border closed until the Thai side fully reopens all border points as normal.
“We’re not playing games. If we close and open according to the Thai side, we’ll never know when they’ll stop. If they want to do things sneakily, fine. Cambodia has already closed the border and it will remain closed indefinitely until Thailand unilaterally reopens all the checkpoints — like they were before June 7, 2025. Then, we’ll follow by reopening. Somehow they are now saying they didn’t close the border — it was Cambodia who closed it,” he said.
“Cambodia doesn’t talk in circles or change its words. We are not the ones who started this, and we’re not playing games by using people’s livelihoods as political leverage or for any other kind of pressure. But since the Thai side started it, it’s only right that the Thai side ends it, unilaterally — no need for negotiations,” he added.
