PHNOM PENH: Rosie Winterton, UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, has landed in Cambodia. She will travel to the conflict-affected Oddar Meanchey province, to see firsthand how communities are recovering from last year’s fighting.
The UK embassy stated that she backs peaceful Cambodia–Thailand dialogue and full implementation of the December 2025 ceasefire.
The visit places the Cambodia–Thailand border situation prominently on the agenda of Winterton’s first foreign trip as Indo-Pacific minister, alongside meetings with the Cambodian government on trade and investment, development, education and human rights.
According to the Aug 25 embassy statement, Winterton will visit Siem Reap, Oddar Meanchey and Phnom Penh, where she is expected to meet Prime Minister Hun Manet.
In Oddar Meanchey, one of the provinces hardest hit by the 2025 border conflict, Winterton will travel to Kok Prasat to visit a UK-funded education programme supporting children displaced by the fighting.
The embassy said the programme is helping affected children continue their education and rebuild their lives, with Winterton’s visit intended to underline the UK’s “unwavering support for sustainable peace and full implementation of the December 2025 ceasefire”.
The visit comes as the humanitarian consequences of the border conflict remain unresolved, with thousands of Cambodians still unable to return to their homes months after the ceasefire.
Cambodia has repeatedly called for the full implementation of the Dec 27 ceasefire agreement, including provisions allowing displaced civilians to return to their homes safely and with dignity, while continuing to accuse Thai forces of maintaining barriers and positions in areas Phnom Penh considers Cambodian sovereign territory.
Winterton said Cambodia’s stability was important not only domestically but also to the wider region.
“Cambodia sits at the heart of a region that matters for the UK’s security and prosperity,” she said.
“On my first overseas visit as Minister for the Indo-Pacific, I am seeing how UK support is helping communities recover from conflict and clearing landmines that threaten lives and livelihoods,” she added.
She said the UK remained committed to Cambodia’s stability and long-term development and to working with the kingdom towards “a peaceful and prosperous region”.
Her visit also adds another senior international presence to areas affected by the Cambodia–Thailand conflict, following field missions by Asean observers and UN representatives examining the continuing humanitarian consequences of the fighting.
Alongside support for displaced communities, Winterton will meet demining experts from a UK charity, as Britain continues more than three decades of support for mine clearance and humanitarian recovery in Cambodia.
According to the embassy, UK-backed demining programmes have cleared an area equivalent to about 22,400 football pitches since 2014, returning contaminated land to productive use.
In May, Britain announced a further £1.6 million for mine clearance and risk education.
The funding is expected to support clearance of nearly 1.94 million square metres of contaminated land and contribute towards Cambodia’s goal of becoming mine-impact free by 2030.
The demining component carries particular significance in a country still dealing with explosive remnants from decades of conflict, even as communities along the Thai border recover from more recent hostilities.
Winterton’s expected meeting with Hun Manet in Phnom Penh will broaden the trip beyond the border crisis and humanitarian assistance.
The two are expected to discuss bilateral relations and shared priorities, while her meetings with Cambodian officials will also cover trade and investment, development and human rights.
Education will form another major component of the visit.
Winterton is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) designed to strengthen institutional partnerships, encourage knowledge exchange and develop skills needed for Cambodia’s future economic growth.
The embassy noted that UK educational institutions have expanded their presence in Cambodia in recent years, with De Montfort University and Teesside University providing British degree programmes in the Kingdom, allowing Cambodian students to pursue UK qualifications without necessarily studying overseas.
While the visit covers a broad bilateral agenda, Winterton’s decision to travel to Oddar Meanchey gives the border crisis a particularly prominent place in her programme.
Her presence among conflict-affected communities also reinforces growing international attention on what happens after the guns fall silent — including whether displaced families can rebuild their lives and whether the ceasefire can translate into lasting stability.
For Britain, the embassy said its development and humanitarian programmes are intended to support security, stability and long-term recovery in Cambodia, with peaceful dialogue and implementation of the ceasefire forming part of that broader commitment. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
