Cambodia’s top military commander called on Monday for a significant expansion of defence cooperation with neighbouring Laos, ranging from joint combat exercises to enhanced intelligence sharing, as the two nations seek to bolster regional security.
H.E. Gen. Vong Pisen, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), expressed optimism for a more “comprehensive” bilateral relationship during a meeting with outgoing Director of the Lao National Defence Attaché Office in Cambodia, Lt. Col. Vilaysone Sisombath and his successor, Lt. Col. Latsakhoun Vongphosy.
In a statement following the meeting at the RCAF Headquarters, H.E. Gen. Vong Pisen highlighted several priority areas for the future, including: Increasing the frequency and scale of combined maneuvers; Strengthening coordinated responses to natural disasters along the shared border; Expanding officer training programmes and high-level exchange visits; Enhancing the flow of information to combat transnational crime.
“The friendship and cooperation between our two militaries have been characterised by mutual support, intelligence exchanges, and the successful suppression of cross-border crimes,” he said, praising the outgoing attaché’s three-year tenure in the capital.
The meeting also touched upon broader regional stability. H.E. Gen. Vong Pisen briefed the Lao delegation on the current situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border, reaffirming Phnom Penh’s commitment to a peaceful resolution of border disputes through established bilateral mechanisms to ensure long-term regional peace.
In reply, Lt. Col. Vilaysone Sisombath credited the strong communication between border security committees for maintaining order, describing the military relationship as a “bridge of solidarity” that facilitates trade and movement for citizens of both countries.
