AKP Phnom Penh, May 26, 2026 -- The Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army met with the outgoing Philippine defence attaché on Monday to reaffirm growing military cooperation between the two nations.

H.E. Gen. Mao Sophan, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Army Commander, received Col. Leo C. Dimoc for a farewell courtesy call following the completion of his diplomatic mission in the Kingdom.

During the meeting, H.E. Gen. Mao Sophan praised Capt. Dimoc for his pivotal role in elevating bilateral ties. He noted that cooperation between the ground forces of Cambodia and the Philippines has significantly deepened through high-level exchanges, joint training exercises, information sharing, and regular bilateral dialogues.

The Cambodian army chief specifically thanked the Philippines for its defence support, highlighting the deployment of Philippine military instructors to Cambodia to share professional expertise across various tactical disciplines.

H.E. Gen. Mao Sophan also commended the Philippines’ leadership this year as ASEAN Chair and head of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT), lauding Manila’s efforts to foster regional solidarity, promote dialogue, and maintain peace and stability across Southeast Asia.

In response, Capt. Dimoc expressed deep appreciation to Cambodian army leaders for their close collaboration and hospitality during his tenure. He reaffirmed the Philippines’ enduring commitment to further strengthening defence ties and fostering closer cooperation between the two militaries in the years ahead.

By K. Rithy Reak