Cambodian PM: Thai Military are Occupying Cambodian Territory

Chhay Sophal

Phnom Penh (18 Feb 2026): Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet has said in Washington, D.C. that Thai forces are occupying Cambodian territory after fighting last December despite a peace agreement brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Quoted by Reuters on Tuesday in Washington, Hun Manet called on Thailand to allow a joint boundary commission to begin working on their disputed border.

Hun Manet and his government’s delegation arrived in United States on Monday to attend the Inaugural Meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington, D.C. with President Donald Trump and other world leaders.

On January 16, President Trump sent a letter of invitation to Hun Manet directly to invite Cambodia saying that “As Chairman of the Board, I formally invite the Kingdom of Cambodia to join as a Founding Member State, and become a party to the Charter of The Board of Peace, as represented by you. This Board will be one of a kind, there has never been anything like it! Each Member State may designate an authorized representative to attend and participate in meetings on its behalf….”.

With no hesitation, Hun Manet responded that “Cambodia’s willingness to support and contribute to the promotion of global peacekeeping. Goodwill, love of peace, support and contribution to building and maintaining peace are principles that Cambodia has always adhered to, especially through the dispatch of peacekeeping forces under the United Nations umbrella to carry out missions in several countries affected by war”.

After Washington Hun Manet is also heading to Geneva, Switzerland, and Brussels, Belgium from 15-27 February 2026 for Working Visits