Cambodia Briefs Foreign Military Attachés on Thai Border Developments

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 4, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence has briefed 22 foreign military attachés on what it described as deteriorating conditions along the Cambodia–Thailand border, citing troop movements, barbed‑wire barriers, container placements and the construction of permanent structures. The session was led by Lieutenant General Rath Dararoth, Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defence, for the Military Attaché Corps Phnom Penh (MACPP), which includes representatives from 18 countries. Held at the ministry headquarters on September 3, the briefing provided updates on recent developments along the frontier, including the armed clashes that preceded the December 2025 ceasefire and Cambodia’s efforts to resolve the dispute through bilateral and regional mechanisms. Rath thanked the attachés for attending and for joining earlier field visits to observe conditions directly. Officials outlined the sequence of events leading to the clashes, the ceasefire agreement of December 2025 and subsequent developments. They presented information on Cambodia’s diplomatic, technical and security efforts to address the issue, while a representative of the Secretariat of State for Border Affairs reported on progress in surveying and demarcation. The briefing highlighted temporary markers placed along sections of the border between Pillars 52 and 59 and between Pillars 42 and 47 in late 2025, before the second round of clashes. Cambodia reiterated calls for Thailand to deploy Joint Survey Teams under the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) to resume fieldwork. Officials said the JBC and JST mechanisms remain vital tools for achieving a lasting settlement. The Cambodian Coordination Team (CLG) also briefed attachés on its role in coordinating with the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT), facilitating missions to observe, verify and report on the situation. Despite the ceasefire, Rath said the situation remained a serious concern, pointing to troop movements, barriers and permanent structures that he said were altering conditions on the ground and preventing civilians from returning home. The ministry described these developments as significant challenges requiring urgent resolution. Attachés were given the opportunity to ask questions and exchange views with Cambodian officials, particularly on surveying, demarcation and dispute‑resolution mechanisms. Rath reaffirmed Cambodia’s “firm, sincere and unwavering commitment” to fully respect and implement the Joint Statement of the Third Special Meeting of the Cambodia–Thailand General Border Committee of Dec. 27, 2025, the Joint Declaration on the Peace Agreement signed Oct. 26, 2025, and other relevant accords. Cambodia remains committed to dialogue, communication and coordination through established mechanisms, with the objective of restoring normalcy, strengthening stability and securing lasting peace along the border.