The Cambodian and Lao militaries pledged to strengthen cooperation on security and order along their shared border to promote peace and economic development, according to a report citing the meeting minutes. Cambodia hosted the fourth meeting of the bilateral border security cooperation committee for 2026 at the Angkor Meas Hotel in Stung Treng province on the afternoon of May 18.
General Eth Sarath, Deputy Commander-in-Chief and Chief of Joint Staff of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, led the Cambodian delegation and chaired the Cambodian side of the committee. Major General Vanthong Bouttavong, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army and chairman of the Lao side, led the Lao delegation.
According to the report, the two sides agreed to strengthen border security cooperation, prevent armed clashes and maintain safety along the frontier. Troops stationed there would work with the relevant authorities and institutions of both countries to prevent transnational crimes, including terrorism, human trafficking, drug trafficking, weapons and ammunition smuggling, trafficking in antiquities, illegal logging, online scams, smuggling of untaxed goods, illegal exploitation of natural resources and wildlife poaching.
The two sides called on their border forces to maintain good working relations, meet and exchange information, and jointly resolve border security issues peacefully while reporting to and seeking guidance from their superiors. They also agreed to counter propaganda intended to incite violence and undermine solidarity and friendship between the two countries’ people and armed forces.
On drones, the two sides said measures should prevent violations of each other’s sovereignty and prohibit drone flights in border areas where delimitation and the installation of boundary markers had not yet been agreed.
They agreed to promote regular annual meetings, hosted in rotation, between the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces’ Intervention Brigade 9 and the Lao People’s Army’s Infantry Division 5; Cambodia’s Preah Vihear military operational area and Laos’ Champasak provincial military command; Cambodia’s Stung Treng military operational area and the Champasak command; and Cambodia’s Ratanakiri military operational area and Laos’ Attapeu provincial military command.
Incidents in any particular area were to be coordinated and resolved locally. The two sides would also work with local authorities and relevant officials to inform border residents about both countries’ laws and regulations, prevent unlawful acts and activities affecting border security, and continue supporting the Cambodia–Laos Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) in fulfilling its land-boundary delimitation and demarcation responsibilities.
The two sides would continue bilateral meetings of the border security cooperation committee under existing arrangements, alternating hosts each year according to circumstances, with no more than 20 delegates from each side.
They reaffirmed the principles of peace, friendship, solidarity and cooperation, respect for each other’s sovereignty and peaceful joint resolution of security problems. Units stationed along the border were urged to maintain regular contact, exchange timely information and organise reciprocal arts, entertainment, cultural and sporting activities.
The two sides also committed to continuing implementation of the cooperation protocol between their defence ministries signed in Vientiane on September 14, 2022.
Reporting: ង៉ែត ពិសាន្ត
