According to reports from The Phnom Penh Post based on the January 9 press briefing by the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific, the United States is not committing $100 million to Thailand alone for border issues. In fact, the real figures are far more modest and clearly explained:
Thailand is to receive $10 million specifically for law-enforcement efforts, particularly combating online scams.
Cambodia will receive $20 million for demining activities and fighting online scams.
An additional $15 million is being shared by both countries for border stabilization, especially support for displaced persons.
There is no official U.S. announcement of a $100 million package directed only at Thailand.
In contrast, multiple international news sources confirm that the U.S. total assistance package for both Cambodia and Thailand is about $45 million — with breakdowns for demining, border stability, and combatting scams/drug trafficking.
Where the “$100M” claim came from
The Thai military and some Thai media outlets shared a message stating that the U.S. would provide over $100 million in military funding to the Royal Thai Army, including support for border security, enhanced vehicle capabilities, training programs, and equipment. However, this narrative was not supported by verified U.S. government releases and appears exaggerated or manipulated.
Experts quoted in Cambodian reporting called this a form of psychological or informational play, intended to:
Inflate Thailand’s standing with the U.S. in the eyes of domestic audiences, Create an impression that Thailand is significantly favored over Cambodia, And feed nationalist sentiment by making it appear the U.S. “backs Thailand” with huge funds — which simply isn’t reflected in the official breakdown of aid.
Why this becomes a joke in public discourse, Claiming ten times the actual amount — from $10 million to $100 million — is not just a rounding error. It’s a dramatic inflation that can mislead people and escalate expectations. In context:
The U.S. aid package of about $45 million is real and verifiable.
The $100 million claim appears to be based on internal or informal military social posts, not official diplomatic announcements.
The misreporting stirs nationalistic narratives rather than shared facts, leading observers to joke that some outlets are entertaining audiences with fake news rather than informing them. That is how Thailand has been built. They are built base on fake culture, fake histories, and now Thai fake media outlets keep reinforcing their instinct.
Bottom line
The U.S. is providing financial support to both Cambodia and Thailand as part of efforts to uphold the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord and address border stability, demining, and cyber scams.
There is no credible evidence that Thailand alone is receiving $100 million from the U.S. for these purposes.
