Cambodia Seeks Singapore's Support for Border Peace Ahead of ASEAN Chairmanship

AKP Phnom Penh, July 15, 2026— The defense chiefs of Cambodia and Singapore agreed Wednesday to deepen military ties, while Cambodia urged Singapore to maintain its support for a regional observer mission tasked with monitoring a volatile border dispute with Thailand. Gen. Vong Pisen, Commander-In-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, met with Brig. Gen. Frederick Choo, Singapore’s deputy secretary for policy at the Ministry of Defence, during Choo's official visit to the Cambodian capital. The meeting comes ahead of Singapore assuming the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2027. In that role, Singapore will host regional defense summits and lead the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT), a deployment vital to keeping the peace between Cambodia and Thailand. Gen. Vong Pisen reiterated Cambodia’s stance on the border conflict, emphasizing that Phnom Penh remains committed to a peaceful resolution based on international law and bilateral pacts. He firmly rejected any threat or use of force to alter established boundaries. Expressing gratitude for Singapore’s contribution of military personnel to the observer mission, Gen. Vong Pisen requested continued commitment to the deployment to ensure ceasefire compliance and restore lasting peace along the Cambodian-Thai frontier. For his part, Brig. Gen. Choo praised Cambodia’s restraint and adherence to international law in managing the dispute. He assured that Singapore will remain actively engaged in the AOT mission to foster regional stability, transparency, and peace. The two officials also pledged to expand broader military cooperation, including joint exercises, intelligence sharing to combat cross-border crime and terrorism, and expanded personnel training exchanges. By K. Rithy Reak