BANGKOK, Thailand – Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced that the Cabinet has approved the cancellation of the long-standing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU 44) between Thailand and Cambodia concerning overlapping maritime claims in the Gulf of Thailand, May 5.
Speaking after the Cabinet meeting at Government House, Anutin said Thailand will formally notify Cambodia of the decision, stressing that the move is not linked to any current dispute but reflects a policy shift after more than 25 years without meaningful progress.
“This is a new context. For Thailand, MOU 44 no longer exists,” he said.
The agreement, originally established to guide negotiations on sharing potential offshore resources, has failed to produce a conclusive outcome. The Prime Minister noted that future discussions may instead rely on international frameworks such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to which both countries are signatories.
Responding to remarks by Hun Sen warning the move could increase tensions, Anutin declined to elaborate, saying the issue should be addressed directly with the Cambodian leader.
He acknowledged that no new negotiations have yet taken place but indicated that any future talks would proceed under a different framework, potentially requiring a new agreement altogether.
On regional diplomacy, Anutin said he expects to meet Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet during the upcoming ASEAN Summit in the Philippines, emphasizing that Thailand remains open to dialogue.
“We have no problem meeting. I can assure the Thai people that it’s ‘Thailand First’—and there will be nothing the country has to lose,” he said.
The Prime Minister also dismissed concerns that the decision could escalate tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border, noting that security forces continue to monitor the situation closely and maintain stability.
According to Anutin, regular consultations with the military indicate that border conditions have, in fact, improved. (TNA)
