New Defence Minister Gen Nattaphon Narkphanit has stepped straight into a political minefield by backing the reopening of Thailand’s border with Cambodia, citing pressure from a third country affected by the blockade.
His critics, however, argue that national security and the safety of local residents should come before business interests hit by the closure.
Nationalists, still angry at Cambodia’s deadly rocket attacks on civilian areas in July, lashed back at Nattaphon for suggesting border crossings be reopened, after the General Border Committee met on September 10 in Cambodia.
‘Most practical choice’
As acting defence minister in the outgoing Thai government, Nattaphon attended the meeting along with his Cambodian counterpart, General Tea Seiha. Just a day earlier, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had confirmed that Nattaphon would retain his role in the new government despite the emergence of rivals for the job, including a former National Security Council chief and an ex-permanent secretary of defence.
The new PM explained that changing the defence minister while the Thai-Cambodian border dispute remained unresolved would be unwise.
Nattaphon was formally appointed, along with other Cabinet members, by royal command on September 19.
The Border Committee meeting saw Nattaphon and Tea Seiha agree to consider reopening the border in provinces like Chanthaburi and Trat, which are considered to be at "lower risk" of armed conflict.
The move followed reported pressure from Japan to reopen crossings sealed off after armed clashes in late July. They remained shut despite a ceasefire agreement, with Thailand demanding its eastern neighbour remove landmines along the border and crack down on scam centres operating just inside Cambodia.
The border dispute has disrupted supply chains for Japanese manufacturers operating in Thailand, who rely on labour-intensive components manufactured in Cambodia. With checkpoints closed, logistics costs for the Japanese multinationals have risen.
Shift of stance
Hit by heavy domestic criticism, Nattaphon, 64, appeared to backtrack, stressing that national sovereignty and Thai citizens’ safety will take priority over border reopening.
The new defence minister also toughened his stance against Cambodia, accusing the country of “lacking sincerity” for protesting Thailand’s erection of barbed wire border fences while ignoring calls for landmine clearance.
Born on February 13, 1961, Nattaphon graduated from the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School and the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. Among his academy classmates was former Army chief General Apirat Kongsompong, who currently serves as vice-chamberlain of the Royal Household Bureau.
Nattaphon was a career soldier, serving in the Royal Thai Army for over three decades before his mandatory retirement in 2021.
As a young soldier in the late 1980s, he commanded an infantry battalion in the Royal Guards Regiment.
He went on to lecture at both the Royal Thai Army Command and General Staff College and the Royal Thai Army War College. He was appointed chief of the Army’s Directorate of Operations in 2015 and deputy chief of staff the following year.
He rose to chief of staff in 2017 before going on to serve as deputy Army chief between 2018 and 2020.
Fighting the pandemic
Just a year before his retirement, Nattaphon was appointed secretary-general of the National Security Council under General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s government. He was appointed as adviser to PM Prayut after his retirement.
Under Prayut’s administration, Nattaphon led Thailand’s fight against the pandemic as head of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration.
In September 2023, he was appointed secretary to Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang under Srettha Thavisin’s administration. In September 2024, Nattaphon became deputy defence minister in the government of Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
In June this year, he stepped in as acting defence minister, replacing Phumtham Wechayachai, who switched to interior minister following Bhumjaithai’s withdrawal from the Pheu Thai-led coalition. Phumtham replaced Bhumjaithai leader Anutin at the Interior Ministry’s helm.
Nattaphon also heads the Special Centre for Thai-Cambodian Border Situation Management, set up under Paetongtarn’s government to handle the border dispute.
