PHNOM PENH, June 2, 2026 — Cambodia has formally notified Thailand and the United Nations of its decision to initiate compulsory conciliation proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Prime Minister Hun Manet announced on Tuesday.
The move follows Thailand's unilateral decision to terminate the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that had served as a framework for discussions on overlapping maritime claims between the two countries.
According to Hun Manet, the Royal Government of Cambodia has issued an official notification to both the Thai government and the United Nations to begin the process of compulsory conciliation under UNCLOS, marking a significant step in the long-running maritime dispute between the neighboring countries.
The compulsory conciliation mechanism is a dispute-settlement procedure provided under UNCLOS that allows parties to seek an independent review and recommendations from a conciliation commission when negotiations fail to produce an agreement. While the commission's recommendations are not legally binding, the process is recognized as a formal international legal avenue for resolving maritime disputes.
Cambodian officials have repeatedly stated their preference for resolving disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law. In recent weeks, senior Cambodian leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, have emphasized the importance of legal and diplomatic mechanisms in addressing outstanding issues with Thailand.
The latest development comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between the two countries over both land and maritime boundary issues. Cambodia has maintained that international legal frameworks should guide dispute resolution, while Thailand has advocated continued bilateral discussions.
No immediate response was issued by Thai authorities following Hun Manet's announcement.
The initiation of the UNCLOS mechanism is expected to open a new chapter in efforts to address overlapping maritime claims in the Gulf of Thailand, shifting part of the dispute from bilateral negotiations toward an internationally recognized legal process.
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