Cambodia and Thailand to Resume Maritime Border Negotiations, Considering UNCLOS Mediation

Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to resume negotiations on their long-standing maritime border disputes and overlapping claims under a bilateral cooperation mechanism. This agreement could impact the economic and strategic interests of both nations. The issue concerns the delimitation of maritime boundaries, including Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and continental shelves, which holds significant importance for the exploration and development of natural resources. Past negotiations had failed to reach a concrete agreement on the specific boundary lines, leaving the matter unresolved. Under the new agreement, the utilization of a mediation mechanism for maritime disputes, as stipulated by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), will also be considered as an option. UNCLOS is an international law that defines the maritime rights and responsibilities of states, and its mediation mechanism provides a framework to facilitate consensus-building among the parties. In recent years, Cambodia has adopted a proactive stance on developing its maritime resources, particularly from the perspective of economic development and energy security. Thailand, likewise, seeks to clarify its maritime borders to protect its economic interests. Cooperation between the two countries on this issue is expected to contribute to regional stability and the advancement of economic cooperation. Specific negotiation schedules and the exact modalities for applying the UNCLOS mediation mechanism are expected to be further discussed between the two nations.