Cambodia is moving forward with plans to introduce mandatory military service for men aged 18 to 25, The Associated Press has reported.
The draft law introduces a two-year service requirement and would replace a conscription framework adopted in 2006, which had set the maximum call-up age at 30.
Under the proposal, military service would remain voluntary for women.
Officials present the measure as a way to strengthen the armed forces, particularly by addressing personnel shortages and improving overall readiness.
The government has indicated that voluntary enlistment alone has not been sufficient to meet current defense needs.
The draft will now be submitted to parliament for review. If approved, it will require final endorsement by the King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihamoni, to become law.
Regional Instability
These legislative steps come amid heightened security concerns, following a period of tensions along the border with Thailand.
A ceasefire has been in place since December last year, following clashes that caused casualties among both military personnel and civilians and displaced more than 500,000 people on both sides of the border.
The dispute is rooted in long-standing disagreements over boundaries dating back to maps drawn during the French colonial period, with both sides contesting control of several border areas, including temple sites.
Previous efforts to stabilize the situation, including mediation by the US, China, and Malaysia, led to a temporary truce after several days of fighting in July 2025.
