Australia Welcomes Cambodia Defence Chief as Both Sides Seek Stronger Military Ties
Australia Welcomes Cambodia Defence Chief as Both Sides Seek Stronger Military Ties
CANBERRA, Sept. 10, 2026 — Australia and Cambodia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation as Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Tea Seiha made the first official visit to Australia by a Cambodian Defence Minister.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles welcomed Tea Seiha to Canberra, saying the two sides held productive discussions on strengthening their defence partnership and working together to support a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
“Great to welcome Cambodia’s Minister of National Defence, General Tea Seiha, to Canberra for his first visit to Australia, and the first official visit by a Cambodian Defence Minister,” Marles said in a message posted on his official Facebook page.
The meeting formed part of Tea Seiha’s five-day official visit to Australia from September 6 to 10, made at Marles’ invitation.
According to Cambodia’s state news agency AKP, the visit is the first official trip to Australia by a Cambodian Minister of National Defence and is intended to further strengthen bilateral military and defence cooperation. Tea Seiha is leading a senior delegation from Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.
The Cambodian defence delegation has also visited Australian military facilities. On September 7, Tea Seiha visited HMAS Kuttabul naval base in Sydney, where he was welcomed by Rear Admiral Bradley Smith, Head of Maritime Sustainment of the Royal Australian Navy.
The visit comes as Australia and Cambodia continue to develop their longstanding bilateral relationship. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade describes the two countries as having more than 70 years of diplomatic relations, with cooperation extending across development, regional security and people-to-people links.
Expanding Defence Cooperation
The two countries have a broader framework for defence engagement within Australia’s longstanding security partnerships in Southeast Asia.
Australia says its defence cooperation with Southeast Asian partners covers areas including humanitarian and disaster relief, maritime security, cyber security and counter-terrorism. Australia also provides opportunities for ASEAN military personnel to study and train in Australia, while participating in numerous exercises with Southeast Asian partners each year.
Cambodia and Australia also cooperate through the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus framework. Australia is currently co-chairing the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Cyber Security with Cambodia for the 2024–2027 cycle, providing another avenue for practical defence cooperation.
The Cambodian side has previously indicated that discussions during Tea Seiha’s visit would cover areas including maritime security, cyber security, information sharing, military education and training, defence policy and regional security issues.
The latest high-level meeting therefore represents a further step in expanding the two countries’ defence relationship, while linking their bilateral cooperation to wider efforts to promote regional stability.
For Australia, stronger defence engagement with Cambodia forms part of its broader strategy of deepening ties with Southeast Asia, which Canberra identifies as central to Australia’s security, prosperity and economic future.
Tea Seiha’s historic visit is expected to conclude on September 10, following a series of meetings and engagements with Australian defence officials and military institutions.
