Cambodia and Thailand Initiate International Arbitration for Maritime Dispute Resolution

Cambodia and Thailand have officially initiated arbitration proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to resolve their long-standing maritime border dispute. This move is seen as a significant step in Cambodia's foreign policy, emphasizing the use of international law and peaceful means for dispute resolution. The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) officially announced on September 9, 2026, that the first meeting of the Conciliation Commission for Cambodia and Thailand, under UNCLOS, will take place from September 14-16, 2026, in Singapore. The opening statements from both Cambodia and Thailand are scheduled for September 15, at 9:00 AM Singapore time, and will be live-streamed in English, Khmer, and Thai. This conciliation procedure was initiated by Cambodia on June 2, 2026, through a notification requesting the establishment of a conciliation mechanism under Article 11 of Annex V of UNCLOS. This action followed Thailand's unilateral decision to withdraw from the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was the sole bilateral mechanism for resolving the maritime issues between the two countries. Thailand submitted its response on June 19, 2026. The Conciliation Commission consists of five members, led by Ms. Katrina Cooper from Australia as President, along with members from Denmark, France, South Africa, and Germany. The PCA will serve as the Registry for this procedure, with the consent of both parties. The PCA's announcement confirms that the Cambodia-Thailand conciliation procedure under UNCLOS has entered the stage of meeting with the parties. This mechanism allows for peaceful dispute resolution through international law, where an impartial commission can hear both parties, examine legal and factual issues, identify points of agreement, and submit proposals or recommendations for a peaceful settlement. This international arbitration process underscores Cambodia's commitment to utilizing the international legal framework to safeguard its sovereignty and national interests. International attention is now focused on the resolution of the maritime border issue, a long-standing concern between the two nations. Source: AKP Khmer