Thailand and Cambodia: Diplomacy over Boundaries

Thailand's Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, announced that the Thai-Cambodian border will remain closed, with the nation opting for U.N.-backed maritime dispute negotiations. This decision comes following Cambodia's invocation of compulsory conciliation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, rejecting bilateral solutions for land disputes.

Thailand has decided against reopening its border with Cambodia. Instead, as confirmed by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Friday, the country will engage in negotiations using a U.N.-backed mechanism designed for settling maritime disputes.

The announcement follows Cambodia's action earlier in the week. On Tuesday, Cambodia initiated a compulsory conciliation process as per the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The move was communicated to both the U.N. and the Thai government, emphasizing its commitment to this international framework.

In response, Thailand will not pursue any other bilateral channels to address the land boundary disagreements with its neighbor, underscoring the reliance on multilateral frameworks for resolution, according to Anutin.