NEW YORK, USA – Talks between Thailand and Cambodia over a disputed maritime boundary have ended without a resolution, with Cambodia questioning Thailand’s decision to cancel a 2001 memorandum of understanding (MOU), Thailand’s foreign minister said. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow met with his Cambodian counterpart Prak Sokhonn at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to follow up on previous leader-level discussions.
There is still no conclusion, Sihasak said after the meeting, adding that misunderstandings persist regarding the Overlapping Claims Area (OCA) in the Gulf of Thailand. Cambodia questioned Thailand’s unilateral move to scrap the 2001 MOU, interpreting it as an attempt to avoid negotiation. Sihasak clarified that Bangkok terminated the agreement because it had yielded no progress, aiming instead to establish a new framework for talks. Thailand also noted that Cambodia was not a member of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) when the 2001 MOU was signed, making an updated framework necessary.
Regarding Cambodia’s push to convene the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), Thailand maintained that preliminary technical talks must occur first to define the scope, as the issue now encompasses border security and cooperation. Sihasak, who also attended a UN Security Council open debate on international peace and security, reaffirmed that Thailand remains fully committed to the ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia and to advancing beyond the ceasefire towards sustainable peace, while stressing that Thailand does not seek any claim on the territory of any country. (TNA)
