Overview

• A Cambodian soldier was killed on May 28 in a firefight between Thai and Cambodian troops at the disputed Preah Vihear–Ubon Ratchathani frontier, reviving an 800km colonial-era boundary dispute.
• The leaked June 15 recording captured Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra calling Hun Sen “uncle” and disparaging a senior Thai general, provoking nationalist and military outrage in Bangkok.
• On June 18 the Bhumjaithai Party withdrew its support, accusing the prime minister of compromising national sovereignty and undermining the military, leaving her with a fragile parliamentary majority.
• Cambodia appealed to the International Court of Justice over several contested enclaves; Thailand rejected the tribunal’s jurisdiction and pressed to revive a bilateral boundary commission.
• Both nations have reinforced border deployments and imposed reciprocal trade and travel restrictions, raising fears of further escalation and straining ASEAN’s dispute-resolution mechanisms.