Bangkok: The Commander of the Royal Thai Police has indefinitely postponed a meeting and circulated a letter to members of the 10 ASEAN police nations, citing potential inconvenience to participating members arising from conflicts with neighboring countries.

According to Thai News Agency, on July 29, 2025, at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters, Pol. Maj. Gen. Suraphan Thaiprasert, Commander of the Foreign Affairs Division, dispatched an urgent letter, number RTP 0002.2/80, to ASEAN member states, dialogue partners, and observers. The letter communicated the decision to postpone the 43rd ASEAN NAPOLEON Meeting, initially scheduled for July 30 to August 3, 2025, in Bangkok, Thailand, until further notice. The postponement was described as a measure taken due to unforeseen circumstances, with an emphasis on the Royal Thai Police’s respect and regret for the disruption.

The letter expressed an apology for any inconvenience caused by the late notice and sought the understanding and support of member states and partners. It assured recipients that the decision was made after careful consideration of the circumstances to prioritize the interests of all participants.

The Royal Thai Police intends to work closely with the ASEAN NAPO Secretariat to establish a new date for the meeting. Once an agreement is reached, ASEAN NAPO Member States, Dialogue Partners, and observers will be promptly informed of the revised schedule and any relevant agreements.

The communication also highlighted the importance of continued cooperation and expressed gratitude for the understanding and flexibility of the ASEAN community. The letter concluded with assurances of careful consideration for the rescheduling process.

Reports indicate that the postponement stems from Thailand’s dispute with Cambodia, raising concerns over the potential inconvenience for member countries traveling to the meeting. As a result, a letter was issued to ASEAN Police Member Countries to suspend the meeting indefinitely.

ASEAN National Police, also known as ASEANAPOL or ASEAN Police, is a law enforcement agency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), established in October 1981. The ASEAN Police Secretariat is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and consists of 10 member countries within the ASEAN bloc: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.