Phnom penh: The release of the 18 Cambodian soldiers held captive for more than five months represents a significant step toward restoring peace and trust between Cambodia and Thailand, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC).

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the MFAIC's Spokesperson stated, "Cambodia believes that this much-welcomed release of the 18 Cambodian soldiers will significantly contribute to building mutual trust and confidence, creating an environment towards restoration of normal relations and peace between the two countries." This statement was released this evening, highlighting the importance of the event.

The 18 soldiers, who had been detained for 155 days, were released at 10:00 a.m. on Dec. 31 via the Prum International Point of Entry in Pailin province and have since safely returned home, the Spokesperson said.

The release of these soldiers was conducted in accordance with the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) of Dec. 27, 2025, the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration of Oct. 26, 2025, and the outcome of the Cambodia-Thailand-China Trilateral Meeting in Yunnan Province on Dec. 29, 2025.

The repatriation was closely observed by the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

"The Government and the people of Cambodia would like to express deepest gratitude and heartfelt thanks to all parties involved, particularly the ICRC, for the coordination which ensured today's successful return. The people of Cambodia highly appreciate support from all quarters for the release," stated the Spokesperson.