On October 14–18, Thailand and Cambodia agreed on confidence-building measures issued by the Conciliation Commission during their second maritime conciliation meeting in The Hague under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The measures call on both sides to exercise restraint in public statements, guard against misinformation and disinformation that could undermine the process, preserve the maritime status quo and refrain from actions that could materially alter it or escalate tensions, and maintain communication channels between naval commanders to manage incidents. Commission Chair Katrina Cooper described the measures as the first concrete outcome of the process. The next meeting is scheduled for November 24–27 in Kuala Lumpur.
The talks address overlapping maritime claims in the Gulf of Thailand, an area with potential oil and gas resources. The conciliation process, initiated in June, provides a framework for pursuing a peaceful resolution through dialogue and international law. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to cooperating fully and in good faith with the commission, while both countries agreed to strengthen mutual trust. For U.S. energy and maritime businesses, sustained engagement could support a more predictable regional operating environment, with future resource development dependent on further agreements.
