Cambodia–Thailand Maritime Dispute Advances to Hague Arbitration Process

PHNOM PENH, June 25, 2026 (KPT) — The maritime boundary dispute between Cambodia and Thailand has advanced to the next stage of an international legal process at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Cambodia’s foreign ministry said Thursday.

Spokesman Chan Ratana told BTV Cambodia that the PCA Registry will meet with the four members of the Conciliation Commission appointed by both countries to discuss next steps.

He said the Registry had informed Cambodia and Thailand that it would coordinate directly with the conciliators as proceedings move forward.

Ratana noted that two of the conciliators are internationally recognised legal experts, selected after careful review of their qualifications and experience.

The development follows Thailand’s formal agreement on June 19 to join the UN‑backed conciliation process after Cambodia submitted its notification earlier this month.

Cambodia announced on June 1 that it had initiated compulsory conciliation under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), saying the move was intended to safeguard its sovereign maritime rights.

The dispute centres on overlapping claims in the Gulf of Thailand, an area believed to hold significant oil and gas reserves.

Earlier this month, Cambodia appointed Michael Taksøe‑Jensen and Alain Pellet Thouvenin as conciliators, while Thailand named Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow as agent, Ambassador Songchai Chaipatiyut as deputy agent, and judges Albert J. Hoffmann of South Africa and Rüdiger Wolfrum of Germany as conciliators.

Analysts said the process marks a shift away from years of stalled bilateral talks. Thong Mengdavid of the Royal University of Phnom Penh told KPT English the move could reduce the risk of political or military tensions.

Geopolitical analyst Gnel Rattha said proceeding under UNCLOS Annex V provides a structured legal framework with a defined timetable, offering both countries a clearer path to resolution.