At the United Nations General Assembly, Cambodia and Thailand presented conflicting positions regarding their ongoing border dispute, each urging the other to foster trust and accusing the other of insufficient efforts toward resolution. The Cambodian Foreign Affairs Minister, Prak Sokhonn, called on Thailand to adhere to existing bilateral agreements, resume border survey and demarcation activities, and allow displaced civilians to return to their homes.

Sokhonn emphasized that recent tensions have negatively impacted bilateral relations and affected civilians and cultural heritage. He insisted that rebuilding trust requires both nations to honor previous commitments, avoid further escalation, and respect international law.

The dispute extends to maritime boundaries, with Cambodia advocating for resolution through international law. Cambodia has initiated compulsory conciliation proceedings under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, following Thailand’s termination of a 2001 Memorandum of Understanding that had addressed maritime issues. However, Thailand maintains that such conciliation should focus solely on maritime boundary delimitation. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul called for Cambodia to engage in genuine bilateral dialogue to rebuild trust.

Anutin also highlighted the need for cooperation on border security, demining, and combating online scam networks in the region. Despite a ceasefire that ended a 21-day confrontation last year, unresolved border and related issues continue to create diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

Cambodia has called for disputes to be managed through existing agreements and international law, while Thailand emphasizes bilateral dialogue and collaboration on border security. At the UN, both nations underscored the significance of stronger international cooperation and peaceful dispute resolution, highlighting the necessity for ongoing diplomatic engagement to address their differences.