Thailand & Cambodia: The Phone Call That Started a War

Описание: In June 2025, Cambodia and Thailand were on the brink of conflict over their disputed border, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra sought peace. That proved to be her political death warrant. Facing accusations of "betraying" her country, Paetongtarn was forced out of office -- and the conflict escalated under her successor.

This was Anutin Charnvirakul of the conservative Bhumjaithai party. He was also close to the Royal Thai Army and the country’s powerful royalist establishment, which had fought for years against the Shinawatras’ political machine.

The war helped secure a victory for Anutin and Thai conservatives that will impact the political trajectory of one of the most important U.S. partners in Southeast Asia. Anutin’s victory also stands to cement the state of tension on the Thai-Cambodian border. Now Thai conservatives have proof that fomenting nationalism, even at the cost of conflict, is sound electoral strategy.

So today, we’re taking a look at how Thailand’s notoriously messy politics shaped the Thai-Cambodia conflict – and vice versa.

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SCRIPT: Sebastian Strangio
VOICEOVER: Catherine Putz
VIDEO EDITING: Aylin Aly

00:00 intro
03:32 the politics of the border conflict
06:08 Anutin and the military
09:11 did the war decide Thailand’s election?
12:28 what next for the Cambodia-Thailand border?

Music licensed via Shutterstock:
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#thailand #cambodia #thaicambodiaborder #thaicambodianwar