Thailand Moves to Abolish 2001 Maritime MoU With Cambodia

The Government of Thailand is moving to unilaterally withdraw from a 2001 memorandum of understanding (MoU-2001) regarding overlapping maritime claims and resource exploitation with Cambodia. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced that the National Security Council confirmed the abolition of the agreement, which was originally signed during the administration of Thaksin Shinawatra. The final decision currently awaits approval from the Thai cabinet.

Royal Thai Navy Chief of Staff Thadawut Thatpitakkul stated the move follows a prolonged lack of progress in implementing the framework. He suggested that both nations should now negotiate boundary delimitation and resource sharing under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia expressed deep regret over the potential withdrawal, noting the impact on the framework established for the joint exploitation of the continental shelf.