Australia Welcomes Cambodia’s Move Toward Ratifying UNCLOS

Australia Welcomes Cambodia’s Move Toward Ratifying UNCLOS

Phnom Penh, Feb. 11, 2026 — The Australian Embassy in Cambodia on Wednesday welcomed Cambodia’s progress toward ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), describing it as a positive step for regional stability.

In a social media post, the embassy said Cambodia’s move toward joining UNCLOS — the comprehensive legal framework governing activities in oceans and seas — was “a welcome step for the region.”

“As two regional maritime states, Australia and Cambodia support a peaceful and stable maritime domain,” the embassy said.

UNCLOS, adopted in 1982 and in force since 1994, establishes rules for maritime boundaries, navigation rights, exclusive economic zones (EEZs), and dispute resolution mechanisms. The treaty is widely regarded as the legal foundation of the global maritime order and has been ratified by more than 160 countries.

Cambodia has previously indicated its intention to align its maritime governance with international legal standards. Ratification would formally bind Phnom Penh to UNCLOS provisions, including frameworks for resolving maritime disputes peacefully.

Australia, a longstanding supporter of rules-based maritime governance in the Indo-Pacific, has consistently advocated adherence to international law amid ongoing regional maritime tensions.

The embassy’s remarks come as Southeast Asian nations continue to emphasize maritime cooperation, freedom of navigation and stability in strategically important sea lanes.