Bangkok: The National Security Council (NSC) has approved the cancellation of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 44, as revealed by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister stated that the NSC has decided to replace MOU 44 with the United Nations maritime law. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is set to present this proposal to the Cabinet for further action. The Prime Minister confirmed that Thailand has the authority to unilaterally cancel MOU 44. There will be no further review of MOU 43.

According to Thai News Agency, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul announced that during the NSC meeting, discussions included the management of the southern border provinces. This led to the establishment of a new Southern Border Provinces Peace Dialogue Committee, which will replace the previous committee whose term ended with the last government. This newly formed committee will be responsible for appointing negotiating representatives and managing various security-related aspects.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the cancellation of MOU 44 will be discussed at the NSC meeting today, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tasked with advancing the matter to the Cabinet. Although the exact timeline is uncertain, the process is expected to be expedited given the government's recent induction of just one week. The NSC has already acknowledged the matter. It is important to note that the cancellation process pertains solely to MOU 44, with no changes to MOU 43. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS) will serve as the new framework for maritime law in place of MOU 44.

In response to inquiries about the unilateral cancellation of MOU 44 by Thailand, the Prime Minister affirmed that it is indeed possible without waiting for the consent of the signatory parties.