AKP Phnom Penh, December 31, 2025 --

The Australian Embassy in Cambodia welcomed the released of the 18 detained Cambodian soldiers, stressing that today’s release is a positive step that will help to rebuild confidence and trust between Cambodia and Thailand. 

“Australia urges both sides to continue to uphold commitments made at the 27 December Special GBC meeting,” the Embassy said in a statement released this morning. “Peace and stability in our region is in all our interests.”

The 18 soldiers were released and safely returned to Cambodia at 10:00 a.m. on Dec. 31 via the Prum International Border Crossing in Pailin province, under the observation of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Their return follows the agreements stipulated in the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting held on Dec. 27, 2025. Under the agreement, after the full implementation of the ceasefire for 72 hours, the 18 Cambodian soldiers were to be released and returned to Cambodia in accordance with the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration signed on Oct. 26, 2025.

It is recalled that only a few hours after the ceasefire took effect at midnight on July 28, 2025, 20 Cambodian soldiers were captured by the Thai military. Two of them were released and returned to Cambodia on Aug. 1, 2025.

By C. Nika