Thai Defence Ministry halts military aid to Cambodia, sends military students home

Thailand halts all military aid to Cambodia and sends students home after border clashes.

Deputy Defence Minister Nattapol Nakpanit said on Thursday that he had ordered the cessation of all military aid to Cambodia and the repatriation of its students at the National Defence College of Thailand (NDC).

Nattapol, who is also acting Defence Minister, stated that he ordered the halt of all military assistance to Cambodia and military cooperation after Cambodia began attacking Thai border areas, which led to border clashes.

Following the border fighting, Nattapol confirmed that he ordered the suspension of the exchange of military personnel training.

“All students from Cambodia who were studying at the NDC for the 2024 academic year have been sent home following the fighting, and they will not return,” Nattapol said. “We had to cancel the quota for Cambodian students at the NDC.”He added that all agencies guarding border crossings must step up screening of foreigners entering and leaving Thailand, and all agencies must also enhance security against potential cyberattacks.

In a related development, Wuttisak Lapcharoensap, acting rector of Ramkhamhaeng University, announced that he was preparing to ask the Ramkhamhaeng University Council to revoke the honorary doctorate degree conferred to former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Wuttisak said he would raise the proposal during the council’s meeting on August 18. The university conferred the degree to Hun Sen in 2001.

“The university cannot ignore the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, which is linked to Hun Sen,” Wuttisak said, adding that the council would decide whether to revoke the degree.

(2025/07/31-00:00)