Thailand has formally terminated its long-running offshore energy cooperation pact with Cambodia, ending the 25-year-old “MOU 44” framework covering disputed areas in the Gulf of Thailand.
The decision was approved by the Thai cabinet under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who said the arrangement had failed to produce meaningful progress since its signing.
The withdrawal was an election campaign pledge of Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who earlier this year rode a wave of nationalism stoked by the fierce fighting with Cambodia to become the first Thai premier to be reelected in two decades.
A ceasefire has remained in place between Thailand and Cambodia since late December 2025 following two outbreaks of fighting along sections of their 817-km border.
Both governments have accused each other of initiating the violence. The clashes resulted in nearly 150 deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands of people in affected border areas.
“Cancelling the deal is not related to the border conflict with Cambodia, but part of my policy. It has been 25 years and there has been no progress,” Anutin told reporters.
Cambodia expressed regret over the move and said it would pursue mechanisms under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to address maritime boundary disputes.
The pact had aimed to support joint offshore oil and gas exploration while parallel negotiations on border demarcation continued.
ℹ️ Reuters
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