Kambodscha verbietet Treibstoffimporte aus Thailand als Grenzstreit -Flares

SS: In *Nikkei Asia*, Ananth Baliga reports that Cambodia has banned all fuel and gas imports from Thailand in retaliation over an escalating border dispute that began with the death of a Cambodian soldier in May. Former Prime Minister Hun Sen ignited tensions further by releasing a call with Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra, prompting a political storm in Bangkok. On Facebook, Prime Minister Hun Manet announced the ban would take effect from midnight, following an earlier halt to Thai vegetable and fruit imports. Hun Sen backed the move, warning Thailand’s state-owned PTT, operator of hundreds of Cambodian gas stations and cafes, that it would bear the consequences. Cambodian customs data shows Thai fuel made up over a fifth of all Thai imports so far this year. Officials claimed Cambodia could offset the ban by sourcing from Vietnam and Singapore, though analysts like Jayant Menon of ISEAS warned the shift would raise logistics costs and inflation. Despite the ban, Cambodians were urged not to boycott PTT stations, as most are locally franchised. The tit-for-tat continued as both sides shuttered border crossings, further straining diplomatic and trade ties.