Thailand Pushes Ahead with Cabinet Reshuffle Amid Political Turmoil and Escalating Tensions with Cambodia

 BANGKOK, June 24 – Thailand’s government announced plans to proceed with a cabinet reshuffle this week, seeking to stabilise its embattled administration following intense backlash over its handling of a mounting border dispute with Cambodia. The controversy has pushed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s leadership to the brink, testing both her coalition’s unity and the nation’s foreign relations.

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have surged, as both countries engage in tit-for-tat measures that have fuelled nationalist sentiments and disrupted bilateral trade. On Monday, Phnom Penh imposed an immediate suspension on all Thai fuel and gas imports—a significant blow to cross-border commerce.

In Bangkok, days after the ruling Pheu Thai-led coalition lost a key alliance partner, Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai sought to reassure the public and project an image of cohesion.
"I’m 100% confident that we will move ahead strongly once the cabinet reshuffle is complete," Phumtham told reporters. "You will see a new approach, distinct from the past."

At the centre of the political storm is Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra—a 38-year-old political newcomer and daughter of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra—who has faced mounting criticism since the leak of a private phone conversation with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. The audio, made public in full by Hun Sen last Wednesday, revealed Paetongtarn appearing deferential and critical of a top Thai military commander responsible for the disputed border region.

The fallout was swift. Hours after the audio was released, the Bhumjaithai Party, Thailand’s second-largest coalition partner, announced its withdrawal from the government, leaving Pheu Thai scrambling to maintain a fragile parliamentary majority. The impending cabinet reshuffle aims to reassign ministries vacated by Bhumjaithai’s departure, as the government attempts to regain control of the narrative ahead of a critical parliamentary session next week.

Compounding Paetongtarn's political challenges, anti-government groups have scheduled a large-scale protest for Saturday demanding her resignation. Meanwhile, a group of senators has filed petitions with the Constitutional Court and the National Anti-Corruption Commission, calling for investigations into her conduct over the leaked call.

“The government cannot take anything for granted,” said Titipol Phakdeewanich, a political science professor at Ubon Ratchathani University. “There’s more instability ahead.”

Bilateral Trade Under Strain

The core of the crisis lies in a longstanding and volatile border dispute with Cambodia, which has periodically flared into violence. A Cambodian soldier was killed in a skirmish just last month. Initially, Bangkok sought a diplomatic resolution—relying in part on historic ties between the Shinawatra family and Cambodia’s political elite. However, the leak of the Paetongtarn-Hun Sen conversation has undermined that strategy and significantly worsened bilateral relations.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet—Hun Sen’s son—announced on Sunday that his government would halt all fuel and gas imports from Thailand. This follows earlier trade restrictions that affected Thai agricultural goods.
"Fuel supply companies in Cambodia can sufficiently import from alternative sources to meet domestic demand," Hun Manet wrote in a Facebook post.

In response, Thailand has tightened security along its Cambodian border, transferring control of crossings to the military and closing at least one checkpoint, citing security concerns.

Cambodia was Thailand’s 11th largest export market in 2024, with bilateral trade totalling $10.4 billion—largely in precious stones, jewellery, and fuel products. Additionally, over half a million Cambodian nationals are employed in Thailand, according to the Thai Labour Ministry.

“This issue goes beyond a simple bilateral conflict,” noted Titipol. “It involves a deeper Hun-Shinawatra dynamic that could further destabilise the government.”