Sihasak joined Adul to discuss security affairs, emphasizing the desire to see peace in the area and hoping for integrated work efforts. They explained the choice of Gen. Somsak as chairman of the JBC, to consider matters based on the substance of the work and coordinate the military to move in the same direction.
At 12:45 p.m. on 19 May 2026 at the Government House, after the cabinet meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Puangketkaew came down from Building 1 accompanied by Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Adul Boonthamcharoen. He spoke about plans to visit the southern border provinces on 20 May, which was originally scheduled for today. He said the visit must be postponed due to urgent duties. They will assess the work of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) to ensure coordination with various agencies. He acknowledged close coordination with the Ministry of Defense, noting that policy aims to establish peace in the area but stressed the most important aspect is integrated work, which is critical.
Sihasak also updated on the cancellation of the memorandum of understanding between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Kingdom of Cambodia regarding overlapping continental shelf claims (MOU 44). He said Cambodia has been informed that Thailand has canceled MOU 44 and that discussions will continue under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to determine how to proceed. He also confirmed that soon there will be a cabinet proposal to appoint the Joint Border Committee (JBC) for the Thai-Cambodian border, with Gen. Somsak Rungsita, former Secretary-General of the National Security Council, as chairman.
Sihasak explained the reason for selecting Gen. Somsak relates to the work of border demarcation under the JBC's responsibility and the General Border Committee (GBC) for Thai-Cambodian border matters, which requires close coordination with the military. They want the work to advance together, choosing the chairman of the JBC based on the nature of the work, which involves more than just technical issues.