Explainer-Cambodia turns to obscure UN process to resolve maritime dispute with Thailand

Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn attends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Retreat (AMM) in Cebu, Philippines, January 29, 2026. Jacqueline Hernandez/POOL via REUTERS

BANGKOK, June 3 (Reuters) - Cambodia is betting on ⁠a little-used UN arbitration process known as "compulsory conciliation" to resolve a long-running maritime boundary dispute with Thailand and ⁠unlock what it says are billions of dollars in potential oil and gas resources.

WHAT IS THE CAMBODIA-THAILAND DISPUTE ‌ABOUT?