Thailand scraps Cambodia naval pact amid sinking ties

"Thailand has formally terminated a 2001 agreement with Cambodia that was meant to provide a bilateral framework for resolving overlapping maritime claims in the Gulf of Thailand, as well as help the countries jointly manage offshore resources. The pact, known as "MOU 44," had largely fail to deliver results since its signing, despite five rounds of talks spanning over two decades. Even so, it remained one of the few standing mechanisms for dialogue between the two countries over the disputed maritime space."

"Under MoU 44, Bangkok and Phnom Penh agreed to share any energy spoils in return for neither side aggressively asserting their claimed sovereignty over the territory. Since last July, however, the two countries have been locked in a deadly land conflict since over ownership of several pieces of territory along their 800-kilometer (500-mile) border, with clashes killing at least 150 people and displacing hundreds of thousands."

"The termination of MoU 44 is a "significant regression in bilateral relations, signaling a shift from collaborative resource management toward unilateral nationalist posturing," Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a professor at Kyoto University, told DW. Under MoU 44, Bangkok and Phnom Penh agreed to share any energy spoils in return for neither side aggressively asserting their claimed sovereignty over the territory."

"Thailand now has a new prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, who took power as a caretaker leader in September before being voted in as the official head of government March. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A"

Thailand formally terminated the 2001 MoU 44 with Cambodia, which provided a bilateral framework for addressing overlapping maritime claims in the Gulf of Thailand and for jointly managing offshore resources. The agreement had produced limited results despite multiple rounds of talks over more than two decades, yet it remained one of the few mechanisms for dialogue between the two countries in the disputed maritime area. Both countries claim waters around several islands, including Koh Kood, where oil and gas reserves are believed to exist. Under MoU 44, both sides agreed to share energy benefits while avoiding aggressive sovereignty assertions. Since last July, a deadly land conflict along the 800-kilometer border has killed at least 150 people and displaced hundreds of thousands, contributing to a political crisis in Thailand and a change in government.

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