Thailand to Scrap MOU 44, Appoint New Talks Chief For South

The prime minister has confirmed plans to revoke a long-standing maritime memorandum with Cambodia and appoint a new chief for southern peace talks, following approval by the National Security Council (NSC). The move signals a shift in both foreign policy and domestic security strategy, with the government aiming to replace the agreement with international law while resetting dialogue efforts in the south.

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Speaking at Government House at 11:10 on 23 April 2026, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the NSC had agreed to revoke the 2001 MOU 44. The proposal, put forward by the Foreign Ministry, will now be submitted to the cabinet for approval, with the process expected to be expedited, although no timeline was specified.

Anutin said the government intends to replace MOU 44 with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), signalling a shift towards internationally recognised legal frameworks in managing maritime issues. He added that the cabinet has the authority to revoke the agreement unilaterally and would not need to formally notify Cambodia.

At the same meeting, the NSC addressed the situation in Thailand’s southern border provinces, agreeing to establish a new peace dialogue panel after the previous panel’s term expired under the last administration. Thanat Suwannanon, director of the National Intelligence Agency, has been appointed to chair the new panel.

The decision comes amid ongoing efforts to manage unrest in the southern region, where peace negotiations have been a key component of government policy. The formation of a new panel suggests a renewed attempt to advance dialogue, although details of its approach or membership beyond the chair have not been disclosed.

Anutin clarified that a separate agreement, MOU 43, remains unchanged and was not discussed during the NSC meeting. This indicates that the government is selectively revising its bilateral frameworks with Cambodia rather than undertaking a broader overhaul.

The proposed revocation of MOU 44 and transition to UNCLOS may have diplomatic implications, particularly in maritime boundary management. However, no immediate response from Cambodia was mentioned, and the Thai government has not outlined any engagement plan following the unilateral move.

Khaosod reported that the cabinet’s decision will determine the formal revocation of MOU 44, while the newly appointed peace talks panel is expected to begin its work on southern dialogue. Further details on both developments are likely to emerge once the cabinet reviews the proposal and the panel is operationalised.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Khaosod 24 Apr 2026