Cambodia Proposes Treaty with Thailand for Single Maritime Boundary, Seeks UN Support

SINGAPORE, Sept 15, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia has proposed negotiating a treaty with Thailand to establish a single, comprehensive maritime boundary, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said Tuesday, as a UN conciliation process opened in Singapore. Speaking as Cambodia’s agent before the Conciliation Commission under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Sokhonn said Cambodia intended to pursue the treaty “with the support of the Commission and in accordance with international law.” He said the proposal aimed to deliver a solution that would benefit both nations while contributing to peace, cooperation and shared prosperity in the region. If a final boundary agreement cannot be reached, Sokhonn said Cambodia was prepared to conclude an interim arrangement with Thailand for joint development and equitable sharing of maritime resources. Such an agreement would apply while negotiations continued toward a permanent settlement.Should neither a treaty nor joint development prove possible, Cambodia would ask the commission to prepare recommendations that could form the basis for a future accord under UNCLOS obligations. Sokhonn said Cambodia’s decision to invoke conciliation reflected its longstanding commitment to international law and peaceful dispute resolution. He cited the country’s past recourse to the International Court of Justice as evidence of confidence in multilateral mechanisms to resolve complex disputes without force. Acknowledging that relations with Thailand had faced challenges, Sokhonn expressed hope the process could help the two sides “turn a new page” for mutual benefit. “Cambodia is confident this Commission is well placed to assist Cambodia and Thailand in achieving a result that brings peace, stability and shared prosperity to the region,” he said.