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Over the past 30 years, we have transformed from a country that received the benefits of peacekeepers—where in the early 1990s we had the UNAMIC forces and later UNTAC—into a country that contributes forces to maintain peace and provide extensive humanitarian aid to various nations currently suffering through what Cambodia once endured.
In this regard, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to Samdech Techo, Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh, His Excellency Prak Sokhonn, His Excellency Sok Chenda Sophea, and His Excellency General Sem Sovanny, the former Director-General of the National Center, as well as all leaders who not only laid out the vision beforehand but also strictly implemented it to ensure our successful participation in peacekeeping up until this day.
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Our approach to reform is based on strengthening within and cooperating to expand friends outside. Reforming and strengthening the capabilities of our military is a necessity. This includes implementing reforms in modernization, structure, training, and equipment. The implementation of the military conscription law—which is scheduled to launch its first session in early November, specifically on November 9, coinciding with our Military Anniversary and National Independence Day—marks the historical commencement of implementing these principles and conscription laws to help strengthen our military.
We will continue recruitment every year, based on the actual needs of the armed forces. In this regard, I would like to praise and encourage our youth, as nearly 75,000 applicants have registered within a span of just over 13 days. The Ministry of National Defense will make decisions based on the actual training requirements for this year and the years to come.
Secondly, reforming to expand friends outside. This effort can be regarded as military diplomacy, in which our Ministry of National Defense has consistently expanded and cooperated both within the country and abroad with various nations. This specifically includes establishing new relationships through MOUs and TORs, working together, co-operating, and conducting joint training exercises, both inside Cambodia and abroad where our troops participate.
Thirdly, what we are currently implementing is the strengthening of governance through the digitalization of personnel management, training operations, and the establishment of payroll systems via banks, among others. These tasks are not easy and are complex, but they are necessary absolutely to carry out.
In this regard, I would like to commend the leadership of the Ministry of National Defense, the General Command, the command centers of all military branches, down to the subordinate units, for their sincere participation in achieving the execution of these essential reforms that we must undertake.
Recently, during my official visit to Turkey, we signed an MOU between our respective ministries of national defense. In truth, this effort is not new; discussions between Cambodia and Turkey began back in 2020, but due to COVID-19, we had to ease off. At the beginning of 2025, we resumed our talks, which ultimately led to the recent signing of the MOU.
This addresses those who have questioned why we are signing agreements everywhere when conflicts are happening. It is not what they think and/or said. Expanding friendships abroad and participating in operations overseas are tasks we perform regularly. We will continue to expand our circle of friends and deepen cooperation mutually.
This year, we will host the 8th edition of the Golden Dragon military exercise with China. Next year, we are scheduled to organize the 8th Angkor Sentinel joint exercise with the United States as well. Furthermore, we will host a trilateral joint training exercise involving our PKO (Peacekeeping Operations) forces alongside the United Nations and Japan, as well as a separate one with the United Nations and South Korea.
Beyond this, our forces lead joint training and military exercises with ASEAN nations and other friendly countries, as well as participate in multilateral exercises. These initiatives reflect the exact strategy and approach we must pursue: reforming to strengthen internally while forging and reinforcing alliances, friendships, and cooperation with nations across the globe—especially military-to-military ties—to collectively safeguard peace and security both regionally and globally./.
