Phnom Penh: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said that at present, Cambodia has a necessary and urgent need to strengthen its capacity to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
On the occasion of attending the extraordinary session of the 7th legislature to discuss and approve the draft law on military conscription on May 12, 2026, the Prime Minister said that many countries have and are returning to implementing social protection policies, protectionism, and adopting a selfish stance.
The Prime Minister said, “In this context, Cambodia has a more urgent and urgent need than ever to strengthen and increase its capabilities to protect peace, national sovereignty, and social interests.”
The Prime Minister added that in order to build a country that is strong and prosperous, each citizen must strive to develop themselves to become a valuable resource for the nation. In this regard, the Royal Government has studied and understood international experiences in building a military force to maintain peace, protect national sovereignty, and the interests of the national society according to the three models. The three models include: 1- One citizen, one soldier system implemented in Singapore and Finland, 2- A mandatory system based on need implemented in Singapore, and 3- A voluntary system implemented in the United States.
The King emphasized that for Cambodia, a small country with limited resources A conscription system based on actual needs is an appropriate option in strengthening and increasing the full-time army and also increasing the reserve army to ensure that the government can quickly mobilize sufficient military forces to serve urgent and urgent needs.
