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“Thailand volition name 2 conciliators and articulation a little-used United Nations (UN) arbitration process that Cambodia has invoked to assistance resoluteness a long-running maritime bound quality betwixt the neighbours,” Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said connected Friday (June 5, 2026).
Cambodia said on Tuesday (June 2, 2026) it had launched a compulsory conciliation process nether the United Nations Convention connected the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), pursuing Bangkok’s determination past period to unilaterally terminate a 2001 bilateral agreement that provided a model for talks implicit a disputed maritime belt.
For much than 25 years, Cambodia and Thailand person some laid assertion to astir 26,000 quadrate km (10,039 square miles) of oversea successful the Gulf of Thailand, an country estimated to clasp astir 12 trillion cubic feet of earthy state and ample quantities of oil, unneurotic valued astatine astir $300 billion.
“Both broadside should have spoken bilaterally first,” Mr. Sihasak told reporters successful Bangkok, expressing dismay astatine Cambodia’s determination to utilise the mediation mechanics and usage it to besides code assets sharing. “If we had talked and determination was nary progress, past we could spell to UNCLOS.”
A spokesperson for the Cambodian authorities did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.
Minister says conciliation volition not amended ties
Bilateral relations betwixt Thailand and Cambodia person been connected borderline pursuing 2 circular of intense borderline clashes past twelvemonth that killed nearly 150 radical and displaced astatine slightest 3,00,000 connected some sides, though a December ceasefire is inactive holding.
Cambodia’s determination to usage compulsory conciliation — wherever a five-member sheet delivers a acceptable of non-binding recommendations — volition not amended wide ties betwixt the 2 countries, said Mr. Sihasak, who besides serves arsenic Deputy Prime Minister.
“We simply don’t hold with however they approached this,” helium said, referring to Cambodia’s stance.
So far, the UN-backed mechanics has lone been utilized by East Timor, besides known arsenic Timor Leste, to successfully resoluteness a decades-long maritime quality with Australia. That process took a small little than 2 years.
“If we bash this done bilateral speech successful a affable way, it whitethorn instrumentality shorter clip to scope an amicable solution,” Mr. Sihasak said, “Now, we don’t cognize however agelong this will take.”
