Cambodia to strengthen military cooperation with Japan, Australia

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Cambodia to strengthen military cooperation with Japan, Australia
Cambodia to strengthen military cooperation with Japan, Australia

Phnom Penh, 1 April 2023 (TDI): Cambodia has praised its excellent bilateral friendship, mutual support, and cooperation, particularly in the field of military, with Japan and Australia.

Cambodia shares a very long-standing relationship with Australia and Japan, aiming to extend ties with its two allies; Australia and Japan.

It established relations with Australia in 1952 and 1954,  Japan,  made several agreements, and protects the whole region through their collaboration together, though their ties are unbreakable.

While, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), General Hun Manet, and the Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army expressed their satisfaction during separate meetings on March 30 in Phnom Penh.

The Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia, UENO Atsushi, and Australian Ambassador to Cambodia, Justin Kevin Whyatt were also present.

General Hun Manet praised Japan and Australia for their contributions to Cambodia’s peace-building, reconstruction, and development efforts, especially during and after the COVID-19 crisis.

Japanese Ambassador thanked Hun Manet for his assistance in advancing bilateral military cooperation, emphasizing that the two countries’ Army, Navy, and Air Force will continue to be strengthened and expanded.

Ambassador Justin Kevin commended the two nations’ exchange of visits at all levels and training of human resources in national security.

Additionally, Cambodia continues to work with the Australian and Japanese Ministries of National Defence on a variety of projects.

Projects include; the creation of an effective Cambodian counter-terrorism capacity, a defence strategic review, and maritime security. Moreover, Australia and Japan are key public health partners in Cambodia.

The conflict in Ukraine, Myanmar’s political turmoil, cross-Strait tensions, COVID-19, and US-China competition all put Cambodia’s diplomatic intransigence into question. Cambodia has guided ASEAN through geopolitically turbulent seas.