Cambodia is set to host joint military exercises with the armies of Laos and Vietnam this November, during the annual defence ministers’ meeting of the three neighbouring nations.

The drills follow the first-ever “Border Defence Friendship Exchange” between the three countries, held in the tri-border area in December last year.

The upcoming exercises were announced in a September 15 statement by the Ministry of National Defence, which also highlighted the results of defence minister Tea Seiha’s recent participation in the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, held in China.

Both Laos Minister of National Defense General Chansamone Chanyalath and Vietnamese Minister of National Defense General Phan Van Giang have confirmed their participation in the annual defense ministers’ meeting, as well as the joint exercises.

In December 2023, the three ministers visited the border area at the junction of Cambodia’s Ratanakkiri province, Vietnam’s Kon Tum province and Laos’ Attapeu province, in a historic first exchange.

The exchange aimed to actualise the trilateral cooperation plan for 2023 between the three nations’ defence ministries, according to the Vietnamese ministry.

“This event helps strengthen political trust, friendship and solidarity, as well as practical cooperation between the border defence forces, local authorities and the people of the three countries. It builds a border of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation and development while promoting unity, friendship and mutual assistance between the governments, militaries and people of the three nations,” it said, at the time.

In terms of bilateral cooperation between Cambodia and Laos, both sides discussed increasing the exchange of military officials and trainees between the two countries. They also agreed to boost communication between units along the border to build trust and foster closer relations.

Vietnamese defence minister Van Giang expressed gratitude to his Cambodian counterpart for his condolences over the recent loss of lives and property caused by severe storms.

He also requested Cambodia’s continued cooperation in locating the remains of missing soldiers from the war era and invited Cambodia’s defence minister to attend Vietnam’s 80th-anniversary celebration of the People’s Army and the 2nd National Defense Exhibition in December 2024.

Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam are part of the development triangle area (CLV-DTA), which was initiated in 1999 and formalized in 2004. It focuses on enhancing connectivity, especially trade, among the provinces under this cooperation framework. 

Recently, some Cambodian citizens have called for Cambodia to withdraw from the CLV-DTA due to concerns over the possible loss of territory, but Cambodian leaders have affirmed that the country will remain a part of the agreement.

Kin Phea, director of the Institute of International Relations at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said he was unsure if the joint military exercises were part of the CLV-DTA framework but saw the significance of such collaborative drills.

“Joint exercises are beneficial as it allows us to share experience, particularly in preparing for disaster relief, combating human trafficking, drug trafficking and transnational crimes,” he explained.