Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on the morning of May 15 that defence reform should “streamline command structures and strengthen operational units.” He said some departments and offices had overlapping responsibilities, as did some military units. The Ministry of National Defence was therefore considering eliminating certain departments, reducing some offices and consolidating offices and military units with duplicate functions. He warned that continuing to transfer personnel from lower-level units to higher headquarters would leave operational units understaffed and headquarters top-heavy, with resources spent maintaining headquarters and offices while fewer personnel remained for frontline duties and daily patrols. He added that the General Command headquarters would also be streamlined further, with plans to reduce its personnel from more than 2,000 to just over 600.
Hun Manet made the remarks at the celebration of the 19th Cambodia Veterans and Retirees Day on the morning of May 15, 2026.
By: ង៉ែត ពិសាន្ត
