PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s military chief Vong Pisen has asked Turkiye to consider opening a military attache office in Phnom Penh to improve coordination between the two armed forces. Last month, the two nations signed a military framework agreement in Istanbul.
Pisen, commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), made the request during a Nov 11 meeting at military headquarters with Colonel Ozgur Bulent Us, Turkiye’s military attache to Cambodia, who is based in Hanoi, Vietnam.
According to an RCAF statement, said he would forward the proposal to Türkiye’s defence ministry for consideration. He also expressed support for implementing the military framework agreement signed in October.
It was signed during Prime Minister Hun Manet’s Oct 15–16 working visit to Turkiye.
Manet and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presided over the signing ceremony following bilateral talks in Istanbul, according to Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Pisen described the agreement as the “basis for expanding defence cooperation”. He said he expected the two armed forces to broaden cooperation in military training, exchanges of visits and information and joint exercises.
“The Cambodian and Turkish armed forces will continue to expand cooperation in personnel training, exchanges of visits and information, and efforts to combat terrorism, transnational crime and cybercrime. They will also strengthen cooperation in the defence industry, humanitarian assistance, disaster response and joint military exercises,” he said.
Us noted that Turkiye’s defence industry could help meet the needs of the Cambodian armed forces and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening military ties.
During the meeting, Pisen briefed Us on what he described as the tense and fragile situation along the Cambodia–Thailand border.
He reiterated that Cambodia remained committed to resolving the dispute peacefully under international law and existing bilateral agreements, and maintained that borders must never be changed by force.
Manet and Erdogan also discussed developments along the border during their October talks. According to the foreign ministry, Erdogan expressed hope that the dispute would be settled peacefully, in accordance with international law and existing agreements. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
