At the United Nations General Assembly, tensions between Cambodia and Thailand were laid bare as both nations presented conflicting views on their ongoing border dispute. This longstanding disagreement has seen each country accuse the other of not doing enough to resolve the matter, with calls made for increased trust and collaboration.
Cambodian Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhonn urged Thailand to adhere to existing bilateral agreements, resume the halted border survey and demarcation efforts, and facilitate the return of displaced civilians. Sokhonn emphasized that recent tensions have strained bilateral relations, impacting civilians and cultural heritage. He insisted that rebuilding trust requires both nations to honor past commitments, avoid further escalation, and respect international law.
The maritime border dispute between the two countries remains unresolved, with Cambodia expressing a commitment to address the issue through international legal channels. Sokhonn highlighted Cambodia’s efforts to initiate compulsory conciliation proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, following Thailand’s termination of the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding that had previously guided maritime negotiations.
Conversely, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul called for Cambodia to engage sincerely in bilateral dialogue to restore trust. He argued that the conciliation process should focus solely on maritime boundary delimitation and advocated for enhanced cooperation on border security, demining, and combating regional online scam networks.
Despite having avoided renewed armed confrontations since a ceasefire ended a 21-day standoff last year, diplomatic tensions persist due to unresolved border issues. Both countries underscored the importance of addressing disputes through existing agreements and international law, with Thailand placing additional emphasis on bilateral dialogue and cooperation.
During their presentations at the UN, Cambodia and Thailand also emphasized the necessity of stronger international cooperation and peaceful dispute resolution. This underscores their shared recognition of the need for continued diplomatic engagement to address their ongoing differences.