Cambodia and Thailand's Maritime Dispute: A New Chapter in Conciliation

Cambodia has initiated a compulsory conciliation process under international law to address a longstanding maritime boundary dispute with Thailand. This follows Thailand's withdrawal from a 2001 agreement. The disputed area in the Gulf of Thailand holds significant energy resources, worth an estimated $300 billion.

Cambodia announced it has commenced a compulsory conciliation process in line with international law to resolve its prolonged maritime boundary conflict with Thailand, having informed both the United Nations and Thailand. This move arrives after Thailand unilaterally exited a 2001 agreement last month, which previously offered a negotiation framework for the contested maritime region.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasized the action was taken to safeguard Cambodia's sovereignty and maritime rights. The Thai Foreign Ministry remained unresponsive to comments, aligning with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's re-election strategy that capitalizes on nationalistic fervor, spurred by recent military clashes along their shared border.

The contested area, spanning roughly 26,000 square kilometers in the Gulf of Thailand, is believed to house large reserves of energy resources, including 12 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and substantial oil quantities, valued at nearly $300 billion. Under UNCLOS, the conciliation process will be supervised by the UN Secretary-General, while Thailand has been given a 21-day period to appoint its conciliators.