Thailand scraps Cambodia naval pact amid sinking ties
Key takeaways
- Bangkok's decision to end MOU 44, a long-stalled maritime agreement with Cambodia, is win for Thai nationalists.
- The pact, known as "MOU 44," had largely fail to deliver results since its signing, despite five rounds of talks spanning over two decades.
- Both Thailand and Cambodia claim ownership of the waters around several islands in this area, including Koh Kood.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Bangkok's decision to end MOU 44, a long-stalled maritime agreement with Cambodia, is win for Thai nationalists. This comes as Cambodia struggles to garner international support amid controversy over scam centers.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Ddgb The two nations are engaged in a border conflict while also pursuing rival claims over resources in the Gulf of Thailand (file photo)Image: Heng Sinith/AP Photos/picture alliance Advertisement 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.