National
• 2 hours ago• Lim_Rothanaksambath
Cambodia and Malaysia Pledge Stronger Defence Ties, Support for Peaceful Border Resolution
PHNOM PENH, July 9, 2026 – Cambodia and Malaysia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral military cooperation and supporting peaceful solutions to regional disputes, following a high-level meeting between the two countries' top military commanders.
The bilateral talks took place on the morning of July 9 between H.E. General Vong Pisen, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and General Tan Sri Dato' Seri Malek Razak bin Sulaiman, Chief of Defence Force of Malaysia, who is on a four-day official visit to Cambodia.
General Vong Pisen welcomed the visit as a significant step in deepening the friendship between the two armed forces, particularly as 2026 marks the 69th anniversary of Cambodia-Malaysia diplomatic relations. He expressed gratitude for Malaysia's role in contributing to peace in Cambodia, including its participation in the UNTAC mission in 1993 and its facilitation of border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand in 2025, including the initiative to establish the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT).
The Cambodian commander reaffirmed Cambodia's commitment to resolving border issues through peaceful means, based on international law and relevant agreements, rejecting the use of force to alter borders.
During the meeting, Cambodia proposed accelerating the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation, expanding military collaboration across all branches, increasing joint training and exercises, sharing information, and cooperating on transnational crime prevention, while continuing to support the AOT mission.
Photo Credit: Royal Cambodia Armed Force
In response, General Malek Razak expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and emphasised the visit's purpose of strengthening long-standing military ties. He commended Cambodia's military for demonstrating high restraint and avoiding armed confrontation despite ongoing border sensitivities.
Malaysia expressed firm support for resolving the Cambodia-Thailand conflict through dialogue under the GBC or JBC mechanisms, in line with ASEAN principles, and reiterated that military force is not an option. Malaysia also endorsed Cambodia's proposals for enhanced military cooperation and affirmed its continued support for the AOT mission to ensure ceasefire implementation and contribute to peace and stability along the Cambodia-Thailand border and across the ASEAN region.
— Source: Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
The bilateral talks took place on the morning of July 9 between H.E. General Vong Pisen, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and General Tan Sri Dato' Seri Malek Razak bin Sulaiman, Chief of Defence Force of Malaysia, who is on a four-day official visit to Cambodia.
General Vong Pisen welcomed the visit as a significant step in deepening the friendship between the two armed forces, particularly as 2026 marks the 69th anniversary of Cambodia-Malaysia diplomatic relations. He expressed gratitude for Malaysia's role in contributing to peace in Cambodia, including its participation in the UNTAC mission in 1993 and its facilitation of border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand in 2025, including the initiative to establish the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT).
The Cambodian commander reaffirmed Cambodia's commitment to resolving border issues through peaceful means, based on international law and relevant agreements, rejecting the use of force to alter borders.
During the meeting, Cambodia proposed accelerating the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation, expanding military collaboration across all branches, increasing joint training and exercises, sharing information, and cooperating on transnational crime prevention, while continuing to support the AOT mission.
Photo Credit: Royal Cambodia Armed ForceIn response, General Malek Razak expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and emphasised the visit's purpose of strengthening long-standing military ties. He commended Cambodia's military for demonstrating high restraint and avoiding armed confrontation despite ongoing border sensitivities.
Malaysia expressed firm support for resolving the Cambodia-Thailand conflict through dialogue under the GBC or JBC mechanisms, in line with ASEAN principles, and reiterated that military force is not an option. Malaysia also endorsed Cambodia's proposals for enhanced military cooperation and affirmed its continued support for the AOT mission to ensure ceasefire implementation and contribute to peace and stability along the Cambodia-Thailand border and across the ASEAN region.
— Source: Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
