Prime Minister Hun Manet has announced that compulsory military service will be implemented in 2026 amid tensions with Thailand.

Hun Manet, Cambodia's prime minister, said that compulsory military service, established by a 2006 law, would be activated from 2026 in response to tensions with Thailand. He emphasized that the purpose of the military is to protect national territory, not to invade others. The law provides for 18 months military service for citizens aged 18 to 30, and Manet has proposed extending it to 24 months. Relations between the two countries are strained by a recent border incident.