The Prime Minister affirms that Thailand does not seek conflict and is moving forward to build peace in the region while fully protecting the nation's interests.
At 19:45 local time on 7 May 2026 (one hour ahead of Thailand) at the Shangri-La Mactan Hotel in Cebu City, Republic of the Philippines, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister, announced that Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Lieutenant General Natthapong Praokaew, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, jointly presented the outcome of tripartite talks among Thailand, the Philippines, and Cambodia held during the ASEAN Summit in Cebu.
The Prime Minister stated that the President of the Philippines desires ASEAN to maintain an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual understanding, thus inviting the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia for discussions. The Thai side brought delegations from foreign affairs and security sectors to reaffirm Thailand's stance committed to peace while safeguarding sovereignty and the highest interests of the Thai people.
The meeting received reports on progress regarding security measures, including military cooperation coordination between Thailand and Cambodia, in accordance with prior agreements made by both parties. Over the past five months, no violent incidents have occurred along the border between the two countries.
The Prime Minister further explained to the meeting the reasons for canceling the 2001 MOU, which the Cambodian side acknowledged and understood. Both countries agreed to uphold the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the key framework for future actions, although practical details still require further joint discussion.
Additionally, both parties agreed to gradually initiate discussions at all levels, including within the Joint Border Commission (JBC) and the General Border Committee (GBC), as well as talks between the foreign ministers, aiming to generate mutual benefits for the peoples of both countries. It was emphasized that all negotiation stages must adhere to the existing ceasefire agreement and previously agreed approaches to foster peace and mutual trust.
The Prime Minister noted that this discussion signals a positive trend toward strengthening peace and stability between Thailand and Cambodia. He stressed that the issues are between governments, not conflicts between the peoples of the two countries, and called on all parties to ensure the safety of Thai citizens in Cambodia and Cambodian citizens in Thailand, preventing discrimination or inappropriate actions.
He also urged Thailand and Cambodia to conduct bilateral discussions based on constructive dialogue without pressure from third countries, to prevent the situation from escalating into more serious conflict.
The Prime Minister confirmed that these talks have not yet included discussions on border demarcation or border openings; the agreement was only to commence operational-level discussions first. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Thai military will continue to discuss the details.
Finally, the Prime Minister reiterated that Thailand will fully uphold its dignity, sovereignty, and the interests of its people, proceeding with all measures cautiously to avoid any losses resulting from this negotiation process.