Cambodia Says It Has Received No Thai Protest Over Alleged Drone Activity

Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, Spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defence of the Kingdom of Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 18, 2026 — Cambodia said on Monday it had not received any formal protest from Thailand over alleged Cambodian drone activity along the Cambodia-Thailand border, urging Bangkok to address sensitive border issues through established official channels and on the basis of verifiable evidence.

The Cambodian Ministry of National Defence spokesperson made the remarks after Thai media reported that Thailand had accused Cambodia of operating drones along the border.

Thai Defence Ministry spokesman Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri said Thailand had submitted protest letters over alleged Cambodian drone operations and that the issue had complicated efforts to resume bilateral border talks.

Cambodia’s defence ministry, however, said it had yet to receive any formal protest letter from the Thai side regarding the allegations.

“Any allegations concerning the sensitive situation along the border should be based on verifiable facts and evidence and should be addressed through the existing official mechanisms between the two countries, rather than making premature conclusions through the media,” the Cambodian spokesperson said.

The ministry called for continued adherence to international law, the ASEAN Charter and existing treaties and agreements between the two countries, saying genuine commitment to those principles was essential to achieving lasting peace and maintaining stability and unity within ASEAN.

Cambodia’s government and Ministry of National Defence also reaffirmed their “firm, sincere and good-faith commitment” to fully and consistently implement existing agreements with Thailand.

Those agreements include the Joint Statement of the Third Special Meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) issued on Dec. 27, 2025, and the Joint Statement on the Peace Deal between Cambodia and Thailand signed on Oct. 26, 2025, as well as other relevant agreements.

The latest exchange comes as bilateral border talks remain difficult.

Thailand has said alleged Cambodian drone activity and other actions have undermined the atmosphere needed for negotiations, while both sides have continued to emphasize the importance of resolving disputes through established bilateral mechanisms.