Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet announced military conscription starting in 2026 amid rising tensions with Thailand following a recent armed confrontation. The conscription law, previously passed in 2006 but never activated, will require Cambodians aged 18 to 30 to serve, with service for women being voluntary. Hun Manet emphasized the effectiveness of conscripted soldiers and called for an increased military budget, while also urging Thailand to reopen closed border crossings.