Cambodia invokes UN process in Thai sea row

Cambodia has formally launched a United Nations‑backed conciliation process to resolve its long‑running maritime boundary dispute with Thailand, following Bangkok’s decision to scrap a 2001 agreement that had guided negotiations.

Prime Minister Hun Manet announced the move on Tuesday, saying it was necessary to “protect Cambodia’s sovereignty and maritime rights in accordance with international law.” The government confirmed it had notified both the UN and Thailand of its decision.

The dispute centres on a 26,000‑square‑kilometre stretch of the Gulf of Thailand known as the Overlapping Claims Area. Estimated to hold nearly 12 trillion cubic feet of gas and vast oil reserves worth around $300 billion, the zone has become increasingly strategic amid global energy shocks.

Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, compulsory conciliation allows independent experts to examine disputes and issue recommendations, though their findings are not legally binding. Cambodia has appointed Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn as its agent, alongside Danish diplomat Peter Taksøe‑Jensen and French academic Jean‑Marc Thouvenin as conciliators. Thailand now has 21 days to name its own representatives.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who campaigned on ending the 2001 pact, said he was not aware Cambodia had initiated the process. His government has emphasised bilateral talks, rejecting past attempts to involve international mechanisms.

The maritime row comes against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire along the two countries’ land border, where fighting last year killed nearly 150 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. Both sides accused each other of sparking the clashes, which ended only after US intervention.

For Phnom Penh, the UN process marks a decisive step to secure access to energy resources and assert sovereignty. Whether Bangkok cooperates remains uncertain, but Cambodia’s move signals it is determined to internationalise the dispute rather than leave it to bilateral negotiations alone.

-2026-06-03