🗓️ Tuesday, June 2, 2026
📍 Phnom Penh, Cambodia

🇹🇭 Thailand Shrugs Off Cambodia’s 🇰🇭 UN Legal Move in Gulf Dispute

Thailand says it has no plans to change course after Cambodia took their long-running maritime dispute to a United Nations-backed process.

Speaking after Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Thailand sees no need to “counter” Cambodia’s latest move, despite Phnom Penh launching a compulsory conciliation process under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

🌊 What’s the dispute about?

At the heart of the disagreement is a large area of the Gulf of Thailand claimed by both countries.

The disputed zone covers around 26,000 square kilometres and is believed to contain vast reserves of oil and natural gas. Some estimates suggest the area could be worth as much as US$300 billion 💰, making it one of the most valuable unresolved maritime disputes in Southeast Asia.

🤔 Why is Cambodia turning to the UN?

For years, Thailand and Cambodia used a 2001 agreement known as MOU44 as a framework for discussing their overlapping maritime claims.

But on May 5, Thailand officially cancelled the agreement, arguing that after 25 years ⏳ of negotiations, little progress had been made.

Following that decision, Cambodia announced it would pursue a UNCLOS conciliation process instead.

Under UNCLOS, a panel of independent experts 👨‍⚖️👩‍⚖️ reviews the dispute and issues recommendations. However, those recommendations are not legally binding, meaning neither country is forced to accept them.

🇹🇭 Thailand says nothing has changed

Anutin said Thailand had already informed Cambodian leaders of its decision during the recent ASEAN Summit in the Philippines.

According to him, Cambodia expressed disappointment but acknowledged Thailand’s position.

When asked whether Thailand was sending mixed messages—saying one thing publicly while doing another behind the scenes—the prime minister dismissed the suggestion.

“Thailand remains firm on its principles,” he said, adding that the country has not taken any action that puts it at a disadvantage.

🚧 Border rumours dismissed

Anutin also pushed back against reports that Thailand had quietly relaxed border restrictions with Cambodia.

Rumours circulated throughout the week that border checkpoints were reopening and that Cambodian students had been allowed to cross into Thailand for school.

“Has it happened? No,” Anutin said, calling the reports misinformation.

He added that provincial governors responsible for border areas had already clarified the situation.

🛡️ No need to ‘fight back’

The prime minister stressed that Thailand does not see Cambodia’s international outreach as a threat.

Asked whether Bangkok needed to respond to Cambodia’s efforts to gain international support for its position, Anutin’s answer was simple:

“Why do we need to counter it?”

He said Thailand would continue following its own strategy while protecting the country’s sovereignty, security and international reputation.

🔮 What happens next?

Cambodia’s move does not automatically change ownership of the disputed waters, nor does it force Thailand to surrender any territory.

The conciliation process will allow independent experts to review the dispute and make recommendations, but any lasting solution will still require both governments to reach an agreement 🤝.

For now, Thailand appears unfazed by Cambodia’s decision to involve an international mechanism, while Cambodia is signalling that it wants the dispute addressed through established international legal channels.

⚡ Quick Facts

• 🌊 Disputed area: Approximately 26,000 sq km in the Gulf of Thailand
• ⛽ Estimated gas reserves: Nearly 12 trillion cubic feet
• 💰 Potential value: Around US$300 billion
• 📜 MOU44 signed: 2001
• ❌ MOU44 cancelled by Thailand: May 5, 2026
• ⚖️ UNCLOS conciliation recommendations are not legally binding
• 🤝 Any final settlement still requires agreement from both countries

📌 The Bottom Line

Cambodia has responded to Thailand’s cancellation of MOU44 by launching a UN-backed conciliation process under UNCLOS.

Thailand, however, is showing little concern. Anutin insists the country’s position remains unchanged, rejects claims of mixed signals, and says there is no need to react to Cambodia’s latest diplomatic move.

For now, both countries remain locked in a dispute over a potentially resource-rich section of the Gulf of Thailand 🌊⛽—but neither side appears ready to back down 🇹🇭⚔️🇰🇭.