Cambodia Initiates UN Conciliation Process to Resolve Maritime Dispute with Thailand
PHNOM PENH — June 2, 2026 — Cambodia has formally launched a compulsory conciliation process under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to resolve its long-standing maritime boundary dispute with Thailand, Prime Minister Hun Manet announced in a televised address on Tuesday, June 2 .
The move follows Thailand’s unilateral decision on May 5, 2026, to terminate the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU 44) that had served as the framework for bilateral negotiations on overlapping maritime claims in the Gulf of Thailand . Phnom Penh has officially notified both Bangkok and the UN Secretary-General of its decision to invoke the UNCLOS mechanism .
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Background of the Dispute
Cambodia and Thailand both claim sovereignty over approximately 26,000 square kilometers of sea in the Gulf of Thailand, known as the Overlapping Claims Area (OCA) . The area is estimated to hold significant oil and gas reserves, with a total potential value of approximately $300 billion, according to Reuters .
The 2001 Memorandum of Understanding had served as a bilateral framework for negotiations on joint development and peaceful boundary delimitation for more than 25 years . Cambodia has expressed regret over Thailand’s withdrawal from this agreement, which Phnom Penh views as undermining a long-standing channel of bilateral cooperation .
Legal Framework and Process
Under the 1982 UNCLOS, compulsory conciliation allows an independent panel of experts to examine a dispute and make recommendations to the parties involved . While the commission’s findings are not legally binding, they provide a structured framework for negotiations under international law .
The conciliation process will be overseen by the UN Secretary-General . Cambodia has appointed Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn as its representative and has nominated Danish diplomat Peter Taksøe-Jensen and French scholar Jean-Marc Thouvenin as mediators . Thailand now has 21 days to appoint its two conciliators, who will then select a chairperson to complete the formation of the conciliation committee .
Domestic Support
Both the National Assembly and the Senate of Cambodia have issued statements expressing full support for the government’s decision to invoke the UNCLOS conciliation mechanism . The National Assembly noted the successful settlement of the maritime boundary dispute between Timor-Leste and Australia in 2018, the first case of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region, expressing hope that the Cambodia-Thailand dispute could become another significant example of peaceful resolution under international law .
Thailand’s Position
Thailand has not yet responded officially to Cambodia’s initiative, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stating he was not immediately aware of the move . Bangkok has previously rejected Cambodian efforts to resolve disputes through international mechanisms, including the International Court of Justice, insisting that such issues should be settled through bilateral negotiations .
Regional Context and Energy Concerns
The dispute has gained renewed urgency amid global energy market volatility following the Iran conflict. Cambodia’s Minister of Mines and Energy Keo Rottanak told CNBC last week that resolving the overlapping claims could unlock significant offshore energy resources and contribute to regional energy security .
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Thailand’s decision to cancel MOU 44 was a campaign promise of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who won re-election in February following two rounds of deadly border clashes between the two countries last year along their disputed 817-kilometer border . A ceasefire has been in place since late December 2025 .
SOURCES / INPUTS
- Vietnam.vn: Cambodia takes new steps to resolve maritime dispute with Thailand [2026-06-01]
- Cambodian People’s Party: Cambodia Commences UNCLOS Compulsory Conciliation over OCA Dispute [2026-06-01]
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