Keynote Address by H.E. LTG. Maly Socheata, the Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson:
The updates following the entered into force of the ceasefire between the Cambodian and Thai Armed Forces on July 28, 2025, and after the extraordinary meeting of the GBC was concluded on August 7, 2025, as of today:
1. From midnight on 15 August 2025 up to 6:00 AM this morning, the situation at the frontline military regions 4 and 5, Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, and Banteay Meanchey provinces, remained calm and steady. Cambodian military forces stand strong and fully vigilant in fulfilling their duty.
The Cambodian Armed Forces firmly respect and strictly implement the ceasefire reached on 28 July 2025 as well as the 13-point agreed minutes adopted at the extraordinary meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) on 7 August 2025, under the observation of Malaysia, the United States of America, and the People’s Republic of China.
2. The Interim Observer Team (IOT)’s the programme on August 15, 2025: Travelling to Preah Vihear province, with the first destination being the An Ses checkpoint and the second being an inspection of the site designated for the Interim Observer Team (IOT), to use while carrying out their mission in Preah Vihear province. This direct visit aims to observe the security situation along the border, the immediate impact of the Cambodian-Thai border conflict, and the situation following the ceasefire of July 28, 2025, as well as the 13-point agreed minutes adopted at the extraordinary meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) on August 7, 2025.
3. On August 15, 2025, the extraordinary meeting of the Secretariat of the 27th Cambodia-Thailand Regional Border Committee (RBC), between Military Region 3 of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and the Chanthaburi and Trat Border Defence Commanders is to be commenced this morning in Trat province.
It is also worth noting that the IOT mission and the 27th extraordinary meeting of the Secretariat of the Cambodia-Thailand Regional Border Committee (RBC), stemmed from the outcome of the special meeting held on July 28, 2025, in Putrajaya, Malaysia, and the extraordinary meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) concluded on August 7, 2025, which reaffirmed the importance of establishing the IOT and in the point 8.2 of the agreed minutes started to convene the Regional Border Committee (RBC), meeting within two weeks after the extraordinary GBC meeting on August 7, 2025. The host will be determined in accordance with the regular hosting rotation.
Cambodia reiterates in the strongest possible terms its unwavering commitment to respecting and strictly implement the ceasefire reached on 28 July 2025, as well as the 13-point consensus adopted at the extraordinary meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC), on 7 August 2025, under observation of Malaysia, the United States of America, and the People’s Republic of China.
Once again, Cambodia called on Thailand to uphold the spirit of the ceasefire in order to achieve a peaceful resolution to the issue grounded with the principles of international law, ensuring a just, impartial, and fair outcome that will bring peace and prosperity to both nations and peoples.
4. Cambodia continued to urge the Thai side to fully implement the above agreement and to return the 18 military personnel to Cambodia so they may reunite with their families who have been waiting day and night. It is important to emphasize that these Cambodian soldiers were illegally arrested by Thai forces on the morning of 29 July 2025, immediately after the ceasefire came into effect, and have now been held in custody for 16 days, 23 hours and 10 minutes as of 15 August 2025 at 7:00 AM.
I would like also to take this opportunity to express gratitude to the many partner countries and international organizations that have repeatedly called on the Thai side to release our 18 military personnel without delay and we ensure that none of our soldiers are ever left behind and forgotten.
The government, army forces and people of Cambodia are strongly united as one body to Protecting our sovereignty, national integrity, and dignity. Full implementation of the ceasefire by both sides will create a favorable atmosphere for restoring peace, stability, and normalcy to the relationship between our two countries.
Thank you.
