Cambodia Urges Thailand to Honor Commitment and Release 18 Detained Cambodian Soldiers

H.E. Ly Thuch, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) and Mr. Gilles Carbonnier, Vice President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on the right/freshnews

Geneva, Switzerland, 1 December 2025 — Cambodia has reaffirmed its deep concern for the welfare of the 18 Cambodian soldiers currently detained under Thai military custody and has urged Thailand to promptly release them in accordance with its commitments.

The appeal was made on December 1, 2025, during a working discussion between H.E. Ly Thuch, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), and Mr. Gilles Carbonnier, Vice President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), on the sidelines of the 22nd Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Convention in Geneva, Switzerland.

Deputy Prime Minister Ly Thuch expressed appreciation to the ICRC for its continued cooperation and support in monitoring the humanitarian condition of the 18 Cambodian soldiers who were unlawfully apprehended and remain under Thai military control. He called on the ICRC to intensify its monitoring efforts and to urge Thailand to ensure the immediate and safe release of all detained Cambodian personnel so that they may reunite with their families without further delay.

In response, Vice President Carbonnier reaffirmed the ICRC’s commitment to closely follow the humanitarian situation of the Cambodian soldiers and to continue engaging constructively with all relevant stakeholders to help resolve the matter.

As of December 2, 2025, it has been 126 days since the 18 soldiers were arrested and detained by Thai forces. Cambodia has reiterated its call for Thailand to fully and faithfully uphold the Joint Statement on the Peace Agreement between the two countries, particularly Paragraph 5, which clearly states: “The Thai side must immediately release the 18 Cambodian soldiers without delay.”

Cambodia further emphasized that Thailand must respect and implement its international legal obligations — especially under international humanitarian law — by guaranteeing the swift and safe return of the detained Cambodian troops.

The Royal Government of Cambodia stressed that it is working tirelessly and utilizing every diplomatic and legal mechanism available to ensure the unconditional release of the 18 soldiers at the earliest possible time. Cambodia affirmed that the Government, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces never abandon any Cambodian soldier under any circumstances.