Cambodia, Thailand begin UN-backed talks on Gulf of Thailand maritime dispute

Key facts

• Cambodia and Thailand have begun UN-backed conciliation proceedings.
• The talks aim to resolve a maritime border dispute in the Gulf of Thailand.
• The first public session took place on September 15.

Cambodia and Thailand have initiated UN-backed conciliation proceedings to resolve competing maritime claims in the Gulf of Thailand. The first public session of these talks convened on September 15, under the framework of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The dispute concerns overlapping claims to the seabed in the Gulf of Thailand, which is estimated to hold significant natural resources.