Thailand Abrogates 2001 Maritime MOU with Cambodia to Resolve Overlapping Claims

Brickinfo News Agency – The Thai government has officially moved to cancel the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cambodia regarding the Overlapping Claims Area (OCA) in the Gulf of Thailand. This decision follows a resolution by the National Security Council (NSC), chaired by the Prime Minister, citing over two decades of diplomatic stagnation and persistent maritime boundary disputes that have hindered the joint development of subsea energy resources.

Government Spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek revealed that the NSC meeting concluded that the MOU 2001 no longer serves the national interest. Despite being in effect for 25 years, the framework led to only five rounds of formal negotiations, none of which yielded a definitive agreement. Instead of fostering cooperation, the spokesperson noted that the existing framework has exacerbated territorial conflicts and created mutual distrust between the two nations.

The Thai government maintains that the cancellation is a strategic step toward establishing a more viable framework for resource management. Officials stated that if Cambodia remains interested in the joint development of underwater resources, it must signal its intent to form a new negotiation framework. This new approach would aim to avoid the maritime sovereignty pitfalls that have plagued previous discussions.

A primary obstacle identified by the NSC was the sequence of negotiations. The Thai administration now insists that maritime borders must be clearly defined before any joint development schemes can proceed. This shift in policy aligns with the government’s recent policy statement to Parliament, which emphasized border security and the peaceful resolution of cross-border issues with neighboring countries.

Regarding the policy shift, Rachada Dhnadirek stated, “On April 9, Prime Minister Anutin delivered the cabinet’s policy statement to Parliament, specifically addressing foreign affairs and security. He emphasized the promotion of border security and the resolution of cross-border issues with neighbors. Subsection 9.2 explicitly highlighted the need to resolve the Thailand-Cambodia situation through peaceful bilateral mechanisms, including the expedited study of canceling the 2001 MOU.”

Following the NSC’s resolution, the proposal will be submitted to the Cabinet for formal approval. Once ratified, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be tasked with executing the legal and diplomatic procedures necessary to terminate the agreement and initiate a new chapter in maritime negotiations with Phnom Penh.