Prime Minister Hun Manet confirmed today, January 26, that Cambodia will join US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, an initiative originally designed to resolve the Gaza conflict. He shared the decision during a meeting with Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command. It was not announced whether the Kingdom will seek to become a permanent member of the board, which reportedly requires a donation of$1 billion, or a standard member, which is free for a three-year term, before assessment for the next mandate. During the meeting Manet thanked Trump for playing a vital role in pushing…
Author: Niem Chheng
A senior US naval official is visiting Cambodia on a mission to strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region under the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” policy. A senior Cambodian analyst has called for the US to go further, by calling on Thailand to respect ceasefire deals and other agreements. Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, met with Prime Minister Hun Manet on January 26 to discuss Cambodia-US defence relations, ways to strengthen bilateral ties and support for regional stability, according to the US Embassy in Phnom Penh. “Discussions focused on dialogue, mutual trust and regional stability. The…
Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, will attend the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat and Related Meetings in the Philippines, where the current situation between Cambodia and Thailand will also be raised, according to a press release from the foreign ministry. A January 26 ministry press release explained that the meeting, themed “Navigating Our Future, Together”, will be held in Cebu. This marks the first meeting since the Philippines assumed the ASEAN chairmanship from Malaysia. The meeting will review the progress made since the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits held in Malaysia, as well…
Cambodia’s ambassador to France has noted that France is prepared to provide documents and maps to help resolve the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute. However, a leading analyst has remarked that the actual issue lies in the expansionist ambitions of the Thai side. “France stands ready to provide documents and maps to resolve the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand through legal channels,” said Luy David, Cambodian ambassador to France, in a January 25 social media post. Kin Phea, director of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, believed that resolving the border issue between Cambodia and Thailand based…
A prominent legal expert has shared his belief that only UN mechanisms can peacefully reclaim the territory occupied by Thailand; however, this process will consume significant time. The worst-case scenario would be waging war to retake it. Lawyer Sok Sam Oeun took to social media today, January 25, to share his views. He noted that if Thailand agrees to resolve the border dispute through the JBC (Joint Boundary Commission) or GBC (General Border Committee) mechanisms, it will mean agreeing to the terms of the 2001 and 2003 MoUs — specifically, that the border must follow the 1:200,000 Franco-Siamese map. Resolving…
The USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) arrived at Ream Naval Base this morning, January 24, as part of a mission to and enhance cooperation between Cambodian and US armed forces. The vessel will depart from the Preah Sihanouk port on January 28. The vessel, an Independence-class littoral combat ship, weighs approximately 3,100 tonnes. Built on a unique trimaran hull, it has a length of around 130 metres and a bean of 31 metres. Armed with multiple helicopters and a missile array, it is commanded by Commander Andrew J. Recame, who was personally greeted by In Sokhemara, Deputy Commander of the Ream…
A UNODC representative has expressed support for increased cooperation with Cambodia to suppress online crimes and also discussed continued training to strengthen the capacity of Cambodian authorities in combating these crimes and raising awareness of them. Chhay Sinarith, Senior Minister in Charge of Special Missions and head of the Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Technology Crimes (CCTC), met with Rebecca Miller, regional coordinator for Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, on January 21. According to the CCTC, UNODC cooperation with Cambodia covers several key…
More than 10,000 additional people in Kampong Thom province’s Taing Kouk district will now have access to a clean water supply, thanks to Australia’s longstanding partnership with the government to improve rural water supply. The Australian embassy and the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation inaugurated the Pongro Water Treatment Plant, a new climate-resilient water treatment plant and distribution network, this morning, January 22. The plant provides safe, treated water to thousands of households, four schools and one health centre across seven villages, advancing Cambodia’s goal of universal access to safe water by 2030 and strengthening community resilience to…
Foreigners who have acquired Cambodian citizenship face revocation if they commit any of five specified offenses. They include obtaining citizenship illegally, as reportedly demonstrated in the case of Chen Zhi, the founder of Prince Bank. Article 52 of a December 1, 2025, Sub-decree on the Implementation of the Law on Nationality outlines the five offences. Citizenship shall be revoked if they commit treason or conspire with foreign entities in a manner that harms Cambodia’s core interests. The second condition involves engaging in activities that harm national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security. The third results from voluntarily serving in a…
Flavio Bonetti, the newly appointed UNESCO Representative to Cambodia, met with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn on January 21. No mention was made of possible measures related to the damage to the Preah Vihear temple caused by Thai shelling and airstrikes. During the meeting, Sokhonn noted that Bonetti’s presence reflects the value Cambodia places on its enduring partnership with UNESCO. He thanked UNESCO for its efforts and continued support for Cambodia, especially in promoting the country’s development priorities in the fields of education, culture, science, innovation, the environment and heritage conservation. He also highlighted the importance…