Cambodia Hosts French-Led UN Peacekeeping Training for 8 Nations

Cambodia is hosting a joint training exercise for French-speaking staff officers for United Nations peacekeeping operations, with support from the French government. Soldiers from eight nations, including Cambodia, are participating in this specialized training. This marks the seventh such training session organized by the French government and the first to be held outside France, with previous six sessions conducted domestically since 2009. The 7th training exercise, hosted by Cambodia, officially opened on the morning of September 14, 2026, under the auspices of General Chay Sanyun, Standing Secretary of State of the Ministry of National Defence of Cambodia, and Major General Stephane RICHOU, Director of the Department of Security and Defence Relations of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. In his opening remarks, General Chay Sanyun considered the training's opening as a demonstration of high confidence from France and the United Nations in Cambodia's capability to host such an event, contributing to the cultivation of human resources for UN peacekeeping operations. He affirmed that this initiative continues the efforts to build the capacity of Cambodian peacekeeping forces, as well as those from other nations, to enhance the effectiveness of their duties in UN peacekeeping mission areas. This includes equipping them with knowledge, skills, professionalism, adaptability, and the ability to work in a multinational environment. General Chay Sanyun also highlighted the current financial crisis, where member states are failing to pay their contributions on time, forcing the UN to reduce its peacekeeping forces. In this context, he emphasized the need to double the training and professional skill development for peacekeeping forces to fulfill their mandates as defined by the UN. The 7th training exercise is scheduled to last for 12 days, from September 14 to September 25, 2026. It includes 15 participants from eight countries: Cambodia (5), France (3), Benin (2), Bangladesh (1), Sri Lanka (1), Vietnam (1), Lebanon (1), and Saudi Arabia (1). Through this training, Secretary of State Chay Sanyun expressed confidence that all international participants will learn significantly from Cambodia. He also believes Cambodia will gain new experiences and engage in in-depth discussions, further enhancing its capabilities and operational efficiency for future peacekeeping operations.