8:30 AM, December 26, 2025
Intervention by H.E. Pen Bona, Royal Government Spokesperson
Samdech, Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to read the message of SPM Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, as follows:
Tonight, 25 December 2025, I held a telephone discussion with Honourable Marco Rubio, Secretary of State of the United States, to discuss the developments of ways to secure a ceasefire along the Cambodia–Thailand border and to continue with the implementation of the peace agreement to achieve lasting peace between Cambodia and Thailand.
Secretary Rubio stated that the United States wants to see a sustainable peace between Cambodia and Thailand and will work to help achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible.
I also reiterated Cambodia’s firm commitment to upholding the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration and expressed hope that both sides will continue to work together in line with all existing agreements
Cambodia continues to maintain its position of resolving border issues peacefully, in accordance with the principles and mechanisms previously agreed upon, in order to resolve the Cambodia–Thailand border issue and build lasting peace between the two countries.
Through the efforts of our Friends to find a solution to respect the ceasefire, it has been shown that the world does not turn a blind eye to Thailand’s brutal aggression against Cambodia. The international community has been concerned about grave impacts on Cambodian civilians and civilian infrastructures caused by indiscriminate attacks deep into Cambodian territory by the Thai military.
Up to now, 30 Cambodian civilians (including 1 infant) have been killed, and 88 have been injured, including women, children, and elders. The number of displaced civilians has increased to over 640,000. Many civilian infrastructures, such as houses, roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, markets, private business buildings, pagodas, and even Hindu statue and ancient temples, which are invaluable cultural heritage of humanity, have been deliberately damaged by the Thai military’s malicious attacks.
However, the leadership’s efforts through diplomatic dialogue, along with the united voices of condemnation and demands from monks, government officials, civil society organisations, and Cambodian citizens, both domestic and abroad, calling for peace and demanding that Thailand stop its barbaric aggression against Cambodia, are attracting attention around the world. This is a sign that justice must be served for Cambodia and the Khmer people, and those who commit crimes against our nation must be held accountable for their actions.
