The conflict intertwines with political dynasties. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, faces off against Cambodia's former leader Hun Sen and his son, Prime Minister Hun Manet. Once allies, their relationship has soured. In 2009, while in exile, Thaksin served as an adviser to Hun Sen. In June 2025, Hun Sen leaked a private call with Paetongtarn, in which she referred to him as "uncle" and mocked the Thai military. The fallout saw Thailand's Constitutional Court suspend her on July 1, sparking protests and a leadership crisis in Bangkok.