Former Australian diplomat Katrina Cooper chairs Thailand-Cambodia maritime conciliation under UNCLOS

Australian diplomat and legal expert Katrina Cooper has been appointed as the chair of the compulsory commission to resolve the Thailand-Cambodia maritime dispute. The date of the first meeting is expected to be held in September 2026. 

Australian legal expert Katrina Cooper has been appointed as the chair of the commission in conciliation proceedings between Thailand and Cambodia, according to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)’s press release. In addition, the PCA will act as Registry in the proceedings for this case.

According to the Thai Foreign Ministry, Cooper is a former diplomat and well-regarded international lawyer. She possesses extensive knowledge, expertise, and experience in international law and negotiation. 

In addition, She previously served as Australia’s Ambassador to Mexico and as Co-Agent of the Australian Government in the conciliation proceedings under UNCLOS between Australia and Timor-Leste, which reflected her direct and relevant experience for the discharge of these duties.

Katrina Cooper (Photo from: Australian American Leadership Dialogue)

The compulsory conciliation is one of the maritime dispute resolution processes under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The conciliation was initiated by Cambodia on 2 June  to resolve the long-standing Thailand-Cambodia maritime dispute. On 19 June, Thailand then submitted its response to the notification of conciliation.

The process involved a third party called ‘a conciliation committee,’ which consisted of four conciliators appointed by the both countries and a chairperson who is selected by the four conciliators. 

Cambodia named Jean-Marc Thouvenin and Peter Taksøe-Jensen were named as Cambodia's conciliators, and appointed Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhonn and Lam Chea, Minister in charge of the State Secretariat of Border Affairs, as its Agent and Deputy Agent.

Meanwhile, Thailand named its two conciliators: Judge Albert J. Hoffmann of South Africa and Judge Rüdiger Wolfrum of Germany. Both are former Presidents of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and are highly respected in international law.

Thailand also appointed Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, and Songchai Chaipatiyut, Ambassador to Kuwait, as Agent and Deputy Agent for the conciliation proceedings.

After the chair of the conciliation commission was appointed, the Commission will determine the date of the first meeting, which is expected to be held in September 2026.

The Key agenda for the first meeting will include consideration of the Rules of Procedure, which will establish the rules and framework for the Commission’s work and serve as guidance for subsequent meetings and related proceedings.

Typically, the commission will take approximately 12 months to complete the report and recommendations, but could extend depending on the relevant parties. 

Notably, the commission’s recommendations will not legally bind, and the outcome will not result in either a loser or a winner. Both Thailand and Cambodia will have to enter into bilateral talks based on the recommendations in order to reach an amicable solution.