Thailand and Cambodia commenced formal discussions this week in Singapore aimed at resolving a longstanding maritime border dispute involving contested sea territory believed to contain significant natural gas and hydrocarbon deposits. The negotiations represent the first meeting under a compulsory conciliation process established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).
The dispute escalated after Cambodia initiated the conciliation procedure in June, following Thailand’s unilateral termination of a 25-year-old memorandum of understanding designed to address overlapping maritime claims. The breakdown of the agreement came amid a sharp deterioration in bilateral relations after violent clashes along their shared land border in 2025. The conflicts in July and December of last year resulted in dozens of deaths on both sides and displaced thousands of civilians.
The delegations were led by Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn. The meetings, held from Monday to Wednesday, involved a five-member Unclos commission tasked with facilitating the dialogue. Cambodia emphasized its preference for a peaceful resolution that benefits both nations and contributes to regional stability. Prak Sokhonn stated that Cambodia pursued the UN-led process to uphold the rule of law and peaceful dispute settlement.
Thailand’s delegation underscored its commitment to resolving the issue through peaceful means and international law but criticized the now-revoked memorandum for achieving little progress over 25 years, with only two meetings held under its framework. Sihasak expressed Thailand’s desire for a renewed negotiation approach, highlighting that Thailand had offered direct talks before proceeding to the Unclos process, an offer Cambodia declined. He said Thailand was prepared to engage constructively with the commission to reach a fair and negotiated outcome.
Despite the United Nations involvement, any ruling from the Unclos conciliation is not legally binding. Both countries are signatories to the international maritime pact but historically have preferred to handle territorial matters bilaterally. Thailand has been particularly cautious about third-party adjudication following its dissatisfaction with a 1962 International Court of Justice decision that awarded Cambodia control of the Preah Vihear temple along their land border, a verdict that has fueled ongoing tensions.
The two countries remain under a fragile ceasefire agreement reached in late December, but sporadic incidents and significant troop deployments underscore the continued sensitivity of their relationship and the disputed border areas. The current dialogue represents an effort to manage and ultimately resolve one of Southeast Asia’s persistent maritime disputes through diplomatic channels.