Thailand Terminates Energy Exploration Agreement with Cambodia, Claims Unrelated to Border Conflict
The Thai cabinet decided to cancel a 2001 joint offshore energy exploration agreement with Cambodia, stating the decision was due to a lack of results over 25 years, not current border tensions.
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- 📰 Published: May 5, 2026 at 20:17
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency Reporter Lee Tsung-hsien, Bangkok, 5th) The Thai cabinet today resolved to cancel the joint offshore energy exploration agreement signed with Cambodia in 2001; according to the agreement, both Thailand and Cambodia acknowledged their differing views on maritime boundary delimitation, forming a framework for both nations to negotiate maritime sovereignty.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated today during the weekly cabinet meeting that this decision is unrelated to the current tensions with Cambodia, but stems from his long-held view that this agreement, signed 25 years ago, has yielded no results.
Previously, Cambodia had called on Thailand to continue upholding the agreement.
Thai PBS reported today that Anutin stated that even without 'Memorandum 44' (MOU44), signed by Thailand and Cambodia in 2001, the two countries could still discuss maritime disputes through other mechanisms and platforms, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In fact, Thai civil society organizations and activists have recently continuously called on the government to terminate the agreement. The pressure further increased after border conflicts erupted between Thailand and Cambodia last year.
The report pointed out that at the beginning of Anutin's second term, he pledged in a policy statement to parliament to promote Thailand's withdrawal from the bilateral agreement.
Cambodia and Thailand unilaterally demarcated their sovereign territories in disputed waters in 1972 and 1973, respectively. To resolve the dispute, 'Memorandum 44' was signed in 2001, with both parties acknowledging their differing views on maritime delimitation, and 'Memorandum 44' was to serve as a framework for negotiating maritime sovereignty.
Bangkok Post noted that although Thailand and Cambodia held multiple rounds of talks, progress has been slow since the signing of 'Memorandum 44,' mainly due to political instability in Thailand, occasional disputes between the two countries, and strong opposition from Thai nationalists hindering the negotiation process.
Thai PBS reported that Anutin refused to comment on former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's statement that canceling the agreement might lead to disputes. Anutin said he would inform Cambodia of the decision to withdraw from the agreement.
According to the report, since Thailand must first notify the other signatory country, the decision to terminate the agreement has not yet officially taken effect. (Editor: Tang Sheng-yang) 1150505
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(Central News Agency Reporter Lee Tsung-hsien, Bangkok, 5th) The Thai cabinet today resolved to cancel the joint offshore energy exploration agreement signed with Cambodia in 2001; according to the agreement, both Thailand and Cambodia acknowledged their differing views on maritime boundary delimitation, forming a framework for both nations to negotiate maritime sovereignty.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated today during the weekly cabinet meeting that this decision is unrelated to the current tensions with Cambodia, but stems from his long-held view that this agreement, signed 25 years ago, has yielded no results.
Previously, Cambodia had called on Thailand to continue upholding the agreement.
Thai PBS reported today that Anutin stated that even without 'Memorandum 44' (MOU44), signed by Thailand and Cambodia in 2001, the two countries could still discuss maritime disputes through other mechanisms and platforms, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In fact, Thai civil society organizations and activists have recently continuously called on the government to terminate the agreement. The pressure further increased after border conflicts erupted between Thailand and Cambodia last year.
The report pointed out that at the beginning of Anutin's second term, he pledged in a policy statement to parliament to promote Thailand's withdrawal from the bilateral agreement.
Cambodia and Thailand unilaterally demarcated their sovereign territories in disputed waters in 1972 and 1973, respectively. To resolve the dispute, 'Memorandum 44' was signed in 2001, with both parties acknowledging their differing views on maritime delimitation, and 'Memorandum 44' was to serve as a framework for negotiating maritime sovereignty.
Bangkok Post noted that although Thailand and Cambodia held multiple rounds of talks, progress has been slow since the signing of 'Memorandum 44,' mainly due to political instability in Thailand, occasional disputes between the two countries, and strong opposition from Thai nationalists hindering the negotiation process.
Thai PBS reported that Anutin refused to comment on former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's statement that canceling the agreement might lead to disputes. Anutin said he would inform Cambodia of the decision to withdraw from the agreement.
According to the report, since Thailand must first notify the other signatory country, the decision to terminate the agreement has not yet officially taken effect. (Editor: Tang Sheng-yang) 1150505
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship of yours is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.