Hun Manet Says Cambodia Needs Strong Defence, Economy to Safeguard Peace
Hun Manet Says Cambodia Needs Strong Defence, Economy to Safeguard Peace
PHNOM PENH, April 26, 2026 — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Sunday that peace is difficult to achieve and harder to preserve, stressing that Cambodia must remain strong amid growing global uncertainty.
Speaking at a gathering with union leaders and representatives of the informal economy sector in Phnom Penh, Hun Manet said national strength in defence and the economy was essential to safeguarding peace.
“Peace is hard to find and hard to maintain,” he said. “In a changing world, to preserve peace we must be strong. No one will come to protect us.”
His remarks came days after the Cambodian government approved a revised military conscription bill requiring male citizens aged 18 to 25 to perform compulsory military service, while women may join on a voluntary basis.
The draft law, approved on April 23, contains eight chapters and 20 articles aimed at implementing constitutional provisions related to national defence and nation-building.
Officials say the programme will also promote discipline, teamwork and patriotism among young people, while giving participants advantages in future employment opportunities and further training.
Hun Manet said the conscription law would help strengthen Cambodia at a time when the international environment remains unpredictable.
