"Military Service Extended to Two Years from Next Year"... Country Implements Conscription Amid Diplomatic Tensions

Cambodia to Implement Conscription for Ages 18 to 30
Service Period Extended from 18 to 24 Months
Law Passed in 2006, but Never Enforced Until Now

Cambodia, which has experienced longstanding border disputes with Thailand, will officially implement conscription starting in 2026 to strengthen its military capabilities. The government is reactivating the conscription law, which had effectively become obsolete, in response to recent escalations in armed clashes and diplomatic tensions in the border region.

According to AFP and other sources on July 14 (local time), Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet announced at a military event held at the Royal Gendarmerie Training Center in Kampong Chhnang Province that "we plan to fully introduce conscription starting in 2026," emphasizing the need to reorganize national defense capabilities amid heightened tensions with Thailand.

Cambodia will introduce conscription starting next year. With this decision, the service period will be extended from the existing 18 months to 24 months. The photo is for illustrative purposes only and is not directly related to the content. Photo by Pexels.

Cambodia enacted a conscription law in 2006 requiring all citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 to serve 18 months in the military, but it has not been enforced over the past 18 years. However, under the new decision, the military service system will be reorganized so that men will be subject to mandatory service, while women will be able to enlist voluntarily. The service period will also be extended from the 18 months stipulated in the previous law to 24 months.

Prime Minister Hun Manet stated, "Recent clashes in the border region have prompted a reassessment of our military system and set the direction for reforms," stressing that "the Cambodian military is not intended to invade other countries, but to defend our sovereignty and territory."

Cambodia will introduce conscription starting next year. The photo is for illustrative purposes to aid understanding of the article and is not directly related to the content. Pixabay

The clash referenced by Prime Minister Manet was a minor gunfight that occurred on May 28 in the Thailand-Cambodia border area, resulting in the death of one Cambodian soldier. Following this incident, tensions between the two countries escalated further when the contents of a phone call between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen were leaked, worsening diplomatic friction. In particular, Prime Minister Paetongtarn made disparaging remarks about her own country's military commander responsible for the Cambodian border during the call with President Hun Sen. When these remarks became public, the Constitutional Court of Thailand suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn from her duties and initiated impeachment proceedings, leading to increased political turmoil within Thailand.

The Cambodian government also plans to significantly increase its defense budget along with the implementation of conscription. This year, the national budget is approximately $9.3 billion (about 12.8 trillion won), with the defense budget set at about $739 million (about 1.016 trillion won). Once conscription is fully implemented, discharged personnel will be incorporated into the reserve forces, enabling rapid mobilization in emergencies and significantly enhancing the military's sustained combat capabilities.

Through these measures, Cambodia aims to secure a stable military force in the long term and improve its practical response capabilities in border disputes with Thailand. However, issues such as human rights, the right to conscientious objection, and the effectiveness of the reserve force management system remain as challenges to be addressed in the future.