TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, on Monday, July 14, 2025, said that the Southeast Asian country will enforce mandatory military service starting in 2026, citing rising border tensions with Thailand.
The Cambodian parliament approved the Military Conscription Law on December 22, 2006, requiring all Cambodian men aged 18 to 30 to serve in the military for 18 months. However, the law has never been enforced.
"From 2026, the military conscription law will be implemented," said Hun Manet in his speech at the celebration of the 32nd anniversary of the National Military Police held at a training center in Kampong Chhnang Province, central Cambodia, as reported by CNA and ABC Australia.
"The military conscription law will help us increase the number of soldiers, reinforcing our army," he said.
However, Hun Manet stated that the obligatory training period of 18 months will be extended to 24 months. Relations with neighboring country Thailand have been tense since May, when a long-standing territorial dispute erupted into a cross-border clash, resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier.
"This episode of confrontation is a lesson for us and is an opportunity for us to review, assess, and set our targets to reform our military," said Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Manet.
Hun Manet stated that the new law extends the service period from 18 months to 24 months to allow for comprehensive training, logistics, and administrative processes, as reported by Khmer Times.
He mentioned that the law simplifies mandatory military service to recruit new conscripts to ensure Cambodia has adequate personnel reserves.
After serving, potential conscripts can return to civilian life but will remain as reserve members.
The Prime Minister also pledged to "look at increasing" Cambodia's defense budget.
"Our national defense, the building of our military, is not to invade anybody's territory but it is to protect our territory," he added.
A Cambodian soldier was killed by Thai forces in May during a shootout in the long-disputed area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the border between the two countries and Laos meets.
The incident worsened relations between Phnom Penh and Bangkok, leading to the closure of the border as Cambodia banned fuel and gas imports from Thailand.
This also resulted in domestic political crisis in Thailand, where Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended from his position pending an ethics investigation into her conduct during the dispute.
A diplomatic call between Paetongtarn and Hun Manet's father, former leader Hun Sen, was leaked from the Cambodian side, triggering a judicial investigation.
Thailand also requires two years of military service for healthy men when they turn 21, but uses an annual lottery in April to determine whether they should serve.
Other countries that enforce mandatory military service include South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Norway, and Finland.
Editor’s Choice: 5 Countries That Impose Mandatory Military Service, the Longest is North Korea
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Three Khmer Rouge Sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List
1 hari lalu
The brutal regime of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, which seized power in the 1970s, is still haunting the country. Three sites recognized by UNESCO serve as a perennial reminder of the atrocities committed and the importance of upholding peace.
Updated FIFA Rankings for ASEAN: Indonesia and Malaysia Climb Significantly
2 hari lalu
FIFA released its latest rankings on Thursday, July 10, 2025. So, how do Southeast Asian (ASEAN) countries rank?
China Offers Mediation in Thailand-Cambodia Border Dispute
2 hari lalu
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that Thailand and Cambodia are friends of China, hoping that they can approach each other in good faith.
Ministry: Young Diplomat Found Dead Not Involved in Cambodian Human Trafficking Case
3 hari lalu
Arya Daru was involved in handling human trafficking case in Japan, and the protection and evacuation of Indonesian citizens in Turkey and Iran.
Tomorrowland Coming to Asia with First Festival in Shanghai, Followed by Thailand
4 hari lalu
The globally renowned Tomorrowland music festival from Belgium is set to make its first-ever appearance in Asia.
Indonesian Chess Team Takes Home 18 Gold Medals from Pre-SEA Games in Penang
4 hari lalu
The Indonesian Chess National Team secures gold after gold in the Pre-SEA Games tournament in Penang, Malaysia.
Tourists in Thailand Now Need Prescription to Purchase Marijuana
10 hari lalu
Although Thailand decriminalized recreational marijuana use in 2022, there was initially no clear regulatory framework.
Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra Suspended After Phone Call with Hun Sen Leaked
12 hari lalu
Thailand's Constitutional Court has suspended PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office pending an ethics investigation into leaked phone calls.
Indonesian Govt Calls for Thorough Response to Job Scams in Cambodia
14 hari lalu
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono reveals the phenomenon of offenders who repeatedly become involved in these cases.
Kendari Exports 98 Tons of Seafood Products to the US, Thailand
15 hari lalu
Indonesia's Marine and Fisheries Products has sent 98 tons of seafood products to the US and Thailand from Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi.
