(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen emphasised that the recent joint urban warfare and reconnaissance training between the Royal Cambodian Army and the Philippine Army is a crucial component in strengthening the Cambodian military’s capabilities and operational experience, complementing its existing expertise in jungle warfare.
Samdech Techo received a courtesy call by Lieutenant General Roy Mabagos Galido, Commander of the Philippine Army, on Friday (Jul. 18) at the Senate.
At the beginning of the meeting, Samdech Techo warmly welcomed the commander and his delegation, who are visiting Cambodia to attend the closing ceremony of the aforementioned joint training exercise.
The Senate president underscored that the presence of General Roy Mabagos Galido and his delegation this year, as well as in previous years, reflects the close relationship and strong cooperation between the ground forces of the two nations. He added that such robust military-to-military ties will contribute to broader cooperation across other sectors.
Taking this occasion, General Galido expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to Samdech Techo for allowing to pay a courtesy call. He stated that the visit would help further strengthen existing bilateral ties, particularly through the sharing of experiences via joint military training between the Philippine and Cambodian armed forces.
For his part, Samdech Techo expressed his satisfaction with the continuous strengthening of military ties between the two countries. He highly praised the organisation of the recent joint reconnaissance and urban warfare exercise, describing it as a significant initiative to build the Cambodian Army’s capacity and experience beyond jungle warfare.
Samdech also shared personal reflections on Cambodia’s historical experiences with urban and border conflicts, stressing that these past struggles inspired the implementation of the “Win-win Policy”. This policy, he noted, has secured nearly 27 years of peace and territorial unity—marking the longest period of stability Cambodia has seen in the past 500 years. He reiterated that peace and territorial integrity are essential foundations for national development.
Furthermore, Samdech Techo highlighted the importance of implementing mandatory military service beginning in 2026, as previously announced by Prime Minister Hun Manet. He noted that the military service law has existed for over 20 years and called for military academies and training institutions across the country to adapt to the current context.
Samdech Techo also shared insights into the development of the Cambodian armed forces, his personal role in establishing them, and his vision for preserving experienced human resources. He emphasised that veteran commanders must retain readiness and command competence for combat operations. In addition, he spoke about Cambodia’s potential to export food products to the Philippines and foster cooperation in other sectors to strengthen the Cambodia–Philippines partnership.
General Galido expressed appreciation for Samdech Techo’s sharing of historical lessons and recognised the significance of Cambodia’s peacebuilding journey. He particularly highlighted the “Win-win Policy” as a potential model for governance and military stabilisation in the southern Philippines.
He affirmed that the Philippine Army would continue close cooperation with its Cambodian counterpart to serve the mutual interests of both nations and their peoples.
In conclusion, Samdech Techo wished General Roy Mabagos Galido and his delegation a successful visit and expressed hope to welcome them again in the future.
=FRESH NEWS
