Cambodia's Ministry of National Defense and ICRC Reaffirm Commitment to International Law

The Ministry of National Defense of Cambodia held a meeting with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on July 1, 2026, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation in upholding international law, particularly International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The meeting was attended by Undersecretary of State for National Defense, H.E. Major General Rath Dararath, with the permission of H.E. General Tea Seiha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, along with Mr. Jürg Montani, Head of the ICRC's regional delegation for Asia, and his colleagues. During the meeting, H.E. Rath Dararath expressed his profound gratitude to the ICRC for its continued active support to Cambodia, especially for its effective and fruitful facilitation in the process of releasing 18 Cambodian soldiers who were illegally detained by the Thai side. He emphasized that this contribution from the ICRC is of significant importance. In response, Mr. Jürg Montani expressed his satisfaction with the facilitation and reiterated the ICRC's commitment to continue supporting and further strengthening cooperation with Cambodia. Furthermore, H.E. Rath Dararath briefed on the situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border and reaffirmed the Ministry of National Defense's firm stance on peacefully resolving border issues based on international law and in accordance with existing conventions, treaties, and agreements between Cambodia and Thailand. As a result, both sides highly valued the close cooperation between the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and the ICRC, and reaffirmed their joint commitment to supporting respect for international law, including IHL, to respond to humanitarian needs and contribute to promoting peace, stability, and security in the region.