Thailand’s government apparently has no control over the military
The longer the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia endures, the more apparent it becomes – through careful observation of Thai media – that the government in Bangkok has effectively lost control over the military.
From the earliest days of the hostilities, the Royal Thai Army assumed operational command along the contested border regions. Martial law was declared in several provinces, officially to “safeguard national security,” but in practice to secure the military’s exclusive authority over nearly all local affairs.¹
While the civilian government initially sought to maintain diplomatic channels, public communication soon shifted almost entirely to military spokespeople. The Nation Thailand repeatedly reported on military press briefings, troop movements, the deployment of F-16 fighter jets, the closure of border crossings, and even the detention of Cambodian prisoners of war – always citing the military as the primary or sole source of information.² ³
This illustrates a clear shift in the balance of power: the leading actors are no longer the Foreign or Defense Ministries, but the army’s top command. The measures announced by the army – including border closures, evacuations, and troop reinforcements – were communicated independently, often without any visible coordination with civilian authorities.⁴
The political vacuum in Bangkok has only deepened this dynamic. The suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra by the Constitutional Court on July 1, 2025, marked a decisive turning point. Her successor, interim Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, visibly operated under military influence. Likewise, the new prime minister Phumtham Wechayachai, elected not by the public but by Parliament, has shown little sign of asserting civilian authority over the army.⁵
During this period of political transition, key national security decisions were made not in cabinet meetings, but directly by the Royal Thai Army’s General Staff. Multiple sources suggest that the border regions are effectively under military administration, a situation that international observers have described as a “de facto sidelining of civilian governance.”⁶
The military appears to be using the conflict to consolidate its institutional dominance. It controls not only the security situation but also public perception. In national media outlets such as The Nation Thailand, the majority of official statements regarding the border situation now come not from the Prime Minister’s Office, but directly from army spokespersons. This strong media presence has symbolic power: it portrays the military as the sole protector of the nation while pushing the civilian government further into obscurity.⁷
Moreover, military representatives frequently emphasize that Thai forces are operating “strictly within Thai territory”—a diplomatic phrasing meant to convey legitimacy and restraint, but which in practice serves to justify the military’s autonomous actions without civilian oversight.⁸
International analysts have raised concerns about this growing imbalance. As the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) notes, the traditionally dominant role of the Thai military in times of crisis often leads to a gradual erosion of democratic control, replacing elected authority with a “stability-oriented military governance.”⁹
The longer the conflict with Cambodia persists, the clearer it becomes that Thailand’s civilian government exerts little real influence over strategic and operational decisions. The state of emergency along the border, the military’s continued dominance in the media, and the weakness of the civilian leadership all point to a reality in which the Thai military not only controls the conflict—but has effectively set the political agenda of the country.
References
¹ The Nation Thailand: “Army declares martial law in border provinces amid Cambodia clashes,” 2025. Available at: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40056668
² The Nation Thailand: “Thai troops strengthen border defences with Cambodia,” 2025. Available at: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/asean/40053993
³ The Nation Thailand: “Captured Cambodian soldiers remain in Thai custody,” 2025. Available at: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/asean/40053555
⁴ Reuters: “Thailand closes border crossings with Cambodia as dispute deepens,” June 24, 2025. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-closes-border-crossings-with-cambodia-dispute-deepens-2025-06-24/
⁵ Wikipedia: “2025 Cambodian-Thai border crisis,” last updated 2025. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Cambodian%E2%80%93Thai_border_crisis
⁶ Council on Foreign Relations: Joshua Kurlantzick, “Is a Coup Coming Soon in Thailand?” 2025. Available at: https://www.cfr.org/article/coup-coming-soon-thailand
⁷ The Nation Thailand: Coverage from June-August 2025, particularly reports citing army spokespersons on border security.
⁸ The Nation Thailand: “Army insists all actions remain within Thai territory,” July 2025. Available at: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40056668
⁹ Council on Foreign Relations: Ibid.