Cambodia Strengthens Cooperation with Arbitration Commission for Maritime Border Dispute Resolution with Thailand

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Prak Sokhonn, stated on September 16, 2026, at Techo International Airport upon his return from the first meeting of the Arbitration Commission under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) held in Singapore, that Cambodia has the goodwill and commitment to work closely with the Arbitration Commission to find a peaceful and acceptable solution to the maritime border dispute with Thailand. Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn stated, "We have high confidence in this commission, which possesses high competence, deep experience, and impartiality, as demonstrated throughout its decades of work." He further explained that the commission comprises 5 members, including renowned foreign legal experts with extensive experience in law and diplomacy. Among these five, three members were involved in the very first case of compulsory conciliation, specifically the maritime border dispute between Timor-Leste and Australia. "What is encouraging for us is that in the first process, Timor-Leste and Australia reached a treaty to resolve their maritime issues together. This is a great encouragement for us, and furthermore, the commission is very pleased and thanks both parties, Cambodia and Thailand, for placing their trust in it," the Deputy Prime Minister added. He also highlighted that the commission has shown goodwill in accelerating the arbitration process, noting that the scheduling of 7 meetings demonstrates the commission's dedication and meticulousness in fulfilling its duties. Concurrently, Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn announced that the Arbitration Commission under UNCLOS has concluded its first meeting with the Cambodian and Thai parties, and preparations are underway for the second meeting, scheduled to take place in The Hague, Netherlands, from October 14 to 18, 2026. He further stated that the Cambodian working team had meticulously prepared for this first meeting since Cambodia decided to initiate the arbitration process. Source: AKP Khmer