Bangkok: The National Security Council (NSC) has approved the cancellation of MOU 44, opting to use the UNCLOS mechanism instead, without needing to seek Cambodia’s opinion. Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul revealed that the NSC has approved the cancellation of the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Although a specific timeframe cannot yet be determined, he confirmed that the process will be expedited.
According to Thai News Agency, the government intends to use the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the primary framework for managing the overlapping areas, instead of the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding.
Regarding the subsequent process, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will submit the matter to the Cabinet for approval, after which it can proceed immediately without needing to consult with the Cambodian side.
It was reiterated that this approach aims to ensure that the management of overlapping areas is unified, clear, and consistent with international law in the long term.