“Prime Minister” reiterates Thailand’s desire for Peace and Concern

Yesterday (7 May 2026), 7:45 PM (local time in the Philippines, which is one hour ahead of Thailand) at the Shangri-La Mactan Hotel in Cebu City, Philippines, Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, along with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkaew and General Natthapong Prawkaew, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, jointly announced the results of the trilateral discussions between Thailand, the Philippines, and Cambodia, held during the ASEAN Summit in Cebu.

The Prime Minister stated that the President of the Philippines wished for ASEAN to maintain an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual understanding and therefore invited the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia to the discussions. The Thai side brought a delegation from the foreign affairs and security sectors to reaffirm Thailand’s unwavering commitment to peace. Alongside safeguarding the sovereignty and best interests of the Thai people, the meeting received a progress report on security measures, including military cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia, in accordance with previously agreed-upon terms. Over the past five months, no violent incidents have occurred along the border between the two countries.

The Prime Minister further stated that Thailand explained to the meeting the reasons for the cancellation of the MOU 2544, which the Cambodian side acknowledged and understood. Both sides agreed that they will adhere to the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as a key framework for future actions, although practical details still need further discussion. Furthermore, both sides agreed to gradually initiate discussions at all levels, including within the Joint Border Committee (JBC) and the General Border Committee (GBC), as well as discussions between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, to achieve mutual benefits for the people of both countries. They emphasized that all negotiation steps must adhere to the ceasefire agreement and previously agreed-upon guidelines to create an atmosphere of peace and trust.

The Prime Minister added that this discussion is a positive sign reflecting a positive trend towards strengthening peace and stability between Thailand and Cambodia, while reiterating that the issue is an intergovernmental matter. This is not a conflict between the people of the two countries. Therefore, all parties are urged to cooperate in ensuring the safety of Thai citizens in Cambodia and Cambodian citizens in Thailand, preventing discrimination or inappropriate actions. Furthermore, the Prime Minister requested that Thailand and Cambodia utilize the bilateral framework for discussions based on constructive negotiation, free from pressure from third countries, to prevent the situation from escalating into a more serious conflict.

The Prime Minister reiterated that this discussion did not include negotiations on border demarcation or border opening. It was merely an agreement to begin discussions at the operational level. The Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces will conduct further detailed discussions. Ultimately, Thailand will uphold its honor, sovereignty, and the interests of its people to the fullest extent, pursuing all approaches with prudence to avoid any losses from this negotiation process.