Thailand–Cambodia 'Reconciliation': A Maneuver to Restore Dialogue With the U.S. and the Risk of Escalation in the Gulf of Thailand

On May 7, 2026, peace negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia were held in Cebu, Philippines, mediated by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. This meeting marked the first direct engagement between the two sides following the appointment of Anutin Charnvirakul as Prime Minister after the snap elections in February.

According to President Marcos Jr., the parties agreed on the necessity of returning to diplomatic mechanisms for conflict resolution. He also emphasized that Manila, as ASEAN chair in 2026, will continue to serve as a key monitor of the ceasefire in disputed areas of the so-called “Emerald Triangle.”

The meeting between Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet took place two days after Thailand’s government unilaterally terminated the 2001 agreement on joint management of disputed waters in the Gulf of Siam.