Phnom penh: Cambodia and Croatia have initiated talks to establish a formal partnership in humanitarian mine action, a move that would mark the first bilateral cooperation between the two nations in this critical field. The discussion was led by H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), in a meeting with H.E. Gordan Grlic-Radman, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, held in Japan this afternoon, on the sidelines of the 2025 Ukraine Mine Action Conference.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, Minister Grlic-Radman commended Cambodia’s extensive experience and dedication to humanitarian mine clearance. He confirmed Croatia’s intent to formalise the collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding, highlighting Cambodia’s strategic role as a gateway for Croatia to deepen its engagement within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
In a significant step to broaden bilateral ties, the Croatian Minister announced an official visit to Cambodia in early 2026. The delegation is expected to include business leaders and investors, with the aim of exploring concrete opportunities in sectors such as trade, tourism, energy, and mine action.
In response, H.E. Ly Thuch thanked the Croatian government for its confidence in Cambodia. He outlined the country’s competitive investment landscape and robust trade infrastructure, affirming Cambodia’s readiness to share its proven expertise in mine action. He emphasised that such a partnership would be mutually beneficial, positioning Cambodia as a valuable and experienced ally for Croatia both regionally and on the global stage.