Thailand Picks Mediators as Cambodia Triggers UN Maritime Talk

Thailand has agreed to name two mediators and join a rarely used United Nations arbitration scheme after Cambodia launched a compulsory conciliation process under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The move follows Bangkok’s earlier decision to end a 2001 bilateral agreement that had guided talks over a disputed stretch of sea.

For more than two decades, Thailand and Cambodia have claimed roughly 26,000 sq km of the Gulf of Thailand. That area is thought to contain about 12 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and substantial oil reserves, worth an estimated $300 billion. Both sides say the dispute should have been settled through direct dialogue before resorting to international mechanisms.

The Thai foreign minister expressed frustration with Cambodia’s choice to invoke the UN process, saying that if talks had stalled, then a UNCLOS‑based approach would be appropriate. He added that the compulsory conciliation panel, which can issue non‑binding recommendations, is unlikely to improve overall relations between the neighbours.

Tensions have flared in recent years, with two rounds of border clashes that killed nearly 150 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. A ceasefire signed in December remains in place, but distrust persists.

Thailand’s deputy prime minister noted that the UN‑backed method has only been used successfully once, by East Timor to settle a long‑standing dispute with Australia. He suggested that a friendly bilateral approach might lead to a quicker, mutually acceptable outcome.

The Cambodian government has not yet commented on the situation. Thailand’s officials remain skeptical of Cambodia’s strategy and are prepared to continue seeking a resolution through direct negotiations.