8-12-2023 (PHNOM PENH) A delegation of young army officers from Singapore is currently in Cambodia as part of the Royal Cambodian Army-Singapore Armed Forces (RAC-SAF) Junior Officers Exchange Programme. The visit aims to strengthen cooperation within the Cambodia-Singapore bilateral mechanism and the broader ASEAN regional framework.
The exchange initiative was initiated following discussions between General Mao Sophan, the deputy commander of the Royal Cambodian Army (RAC), and his Singaporean counterpart, Major-General David Neo. The Cambodian army is hosting the exchange event, as announced in a social media post by RAC on Tuesday (Dec 5).
The nine-day visit, scheduled from Dec 4-12, is designed to enhance understanding and foster bilateral cooperation between the Cambodian and Singaporean armies. It also aims to promote military collaboration among ASEAN member countries, in line with agreements made at the 24th ASEAN Chiefs of Armies Multilateral Meeting (ACAMM) in Hua Hin, Thailand.
During their visit to Cambodia, the Singaporean delegation engaged in meetings with General Sophan and toured various military sites, including the Special Forces Command, Brigade 70 (B-70), the Army Training Centre, Military Region 9, the Cambodia-Japan Friendship Skills Training Centre, and the Army Institute of Cambodia.
As part of their agenda, the delegation was also scheduled to deliver presentations on military service performance and recruitment at Brigade 70. Em Sovannara, an analyst and lecturer in political science at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, highlighted that this visit would deepen Singapore’s understanding of the Cambodian army and contribute to strengthening bonds of friendship.
Sovannara praised Singapore’s efforts in organizing field trips for its youth and officials within civil and military frameworks, a practice that seems more feasible than in other ASEAN member states. He expressed appreciation for the Singaporean government’s initiative and suggested that, if manageable, the Cambodian government should consider adopting a similar approach to provide officials with opportunities to acquire skills in other countries.
