diff --git a/src/cli/BUILD.gn b/src/cli/BUILD.gn
index deb978afc..e70ae4fc8 100644
--- a/src/cli/BUILD.gn
+++ b/src/cli/BUILD.gn
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import("../../etc/gn/openthread.gni")
 openthread_cli_sources = [
   "cli.cpp",
   "cli.hpp",
+  "cli_api.cpp",
   "cli_ba.cpp",
   "cli_ba.hpp",
   "cli_bbr.cpp",
diff --git a/src/cli/CMakeLists.txt b/src/cli/CMakeLists.txt
index 4c85a26da..8eadca79d 100644
--- a/src/cli/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/cli/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ set(COMMON_INCLUDES
 
 set(COMMON_SOURCES
     cli.cpp
+    cli_api.cpp
     cli_ba.cpp
     cli_bbr.cpp
     cli_br.cpp
diff --git a/src/cli/cli.cpp b/src/cli/cli.cpp
index 2370df1d0..e5a47145c 100644
--- a/src/cli/cli.cpp
+++ b/src/cli/cli.cpp
@@ -8826,54 +8826,5 @@ otError Interpreter::ProcessCommand(Arg aArgs[])
     return error;
 }
 
-extern "C" void otCliInit(otInstance *aInstance, otCliOutputCallback aCallback, void *aContext)
-{
-    Interpreter::Initialize(aInstance, aCallback, aContext);
-
-#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_CLI_VENDOR_COMMANDS_ENABLE && OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_CLI_MAX_USER_CMD_ENTRIES > 1
-    otCliVendorSetUserCommands();
-#endif
-}
-
-extern "C" void otCliInputLine(char *aBuf) { Interpreter::GetInterpreter().ProcessLine(aBuf); }
-
-extern "C" otError otCliSetUserCommands(const otCliCommand *aUserCommands, uint8_t aLength, void *aContext)
-{
-    return Interpreter::GetInterpreter().SetUserCommands(aUserCommands, aLength, aContext);
-}
-
-extern "C" void otCliOutputBytes(const uint8_t *aBytes, uint8_t aLength)
-{
-    Interpreter::GetInterpreter().OutputBytes(aBytes, aLength);
-}
-
-extern "C" void otCliOutputFormat(const char *aFmt, ...)
-{
-    va_list aAp;
-    va_start(aAp, aFmt);
-    Interpreter::GetInterpreter().OutputFormatV(aFmt, aAp);
-    va_end(aAp);
-}
-
-extern "C" void otCliAppendResult(otError aError) { Interpreter::GetInterpreter().OutputResult(aError); }
-
-extern "C" void otCliPlatLogv(otLogLevel aLogLevel, otLogRegion aLogRegion, const char *aFormat, va_list aArgs)
-{
-    OT_UNUSED_VARIABLE(aLogLevel);
-    OT_UNUSED_VARIABLE(aLogRegion);
-
-    VerifyOrExit(Interpreter::IsInitialized());
-
-    // CLI output is being used for logging, so we set the flag
-    // `EmittingCommandOutput` to false indicate this.
-    Interpreter::GetInterpreter().SetEmittingCommandOutput(false);
-    Interpreter::GetInterpreter().OutputFormatV(aFormat, aArgs);
-    Interpreter::GetInterpreter().OutputNewLine();
-    Interpreter::GetInterpreter().SetEmittingCommandOutput(true);
-
-exit:
-    return;
-}
-
 } // namespace Cli
 } // namespace ot
diff --git a/src/cli/cli.hpp b/src/cli/cli.hpp
index eb6a4c865..a94608486 100644
--- a/src/cli/cli.hpp
+++ b/src/cli/cli.hpp
@@ -89,7 +89,6 @@
 namespace ot {
 
 /**
- * @namespace ot::Cli
  *
  * @brief
  *   This namespace contains definitions for the CLI interpreter.
diff --git a/src/cli/cli_api.cpp b/src/cli/cli_api.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..82f5bc6ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cli/cli_api.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+/*
+ *  Copyright (c) 2016-2026, The OpenThread Authors.
+ *  All rights reserved.
+ *
+ *  Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ *  modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+ *  1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *     notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *  2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *     notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ *     documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *  3. Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the
+ *     names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products
+ *     derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ *  THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+ *  AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+ *  IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+ *  ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
+ *  LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
+ *  CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
+ *  SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
+ *  INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
+ *  CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+ *  ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+ *  POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * @file
+ *   This file implements the CLI public APIs.
+ */
+
+#include <openthread/cli.h>
+
+#include "cli.hpp"
+
+namespace ot {
+namespace Cli {
+
+extern "C" void otCliInit(otInstance *aInstance, otCliOutputCallback aCallback, void *aContext)
+{
+    Interpreter::Initialize(aInstance, aCallback, aContext);
+
+#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_CLI_VENDOR_COMMANDS_ENABLE && OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_CLI_MAX_USER_CMD_ENTRIES > 1
+    otCliVendorSetUserCommands();
+#endif
+}
+
+extern "C" void otCliInputLine(char *aBuf) { Interpreter::GetInterpreter().ProcessLine(aBuf); }
+
+extern "C" otError otCliSetUserCommands(const otCliCommand *aUserCommands, uint8_t aLength, void *aContext)
+{
+    return Interpreter::GetInterpreter().SetUserCommands(aUserCommands, aLength, aContext);
+}
+
+extern "C" void otCliOutputBytes(const uint8_t *aBytes, uint8_t aLength)
+{
+    Interpreter::GetInterpreter().OutputBytes(aBytes, aLength);
+}
+
+extern "C" void otCliOutputFormat(const char *aFmt, ...)
+{
+    va_list args;
+
+    va_start(args, aFmt);
+    Interpreter::GetInterpreter().OutputFormatV(aFmt, args);
+    va_end(args);
+}
+
+extern "C" void otCliAppendResult(otError aError) { Interpreter::GetInterpreter().OutputResult(aError); }
+
+extern "C" void otCliPlatLogv(otLogLevel aLogLevel, otLogRegion aLogRegion, const char *aFormat, va_list aArgs)
+{
+    OT_UNUSED_VARIABLE(aLogLevel);
+    OT_UNUSED_VARIABLE(aLogRegion);
+
+    VerifyOrExit(Interpreter::IsInitialized());
+
+    // CLI output is being used for logging, so we set the flag
+    // `EmittingCommandOutput` to false indicate this.
+    Interpreter::GetInterpreter().SetEmittingCommandOutput(false);
+    Interpreter::GetInterpreter().OutputFormatV(aFormat, aArgs);
+    Interpreter::GetInterpreter().OutputNewLine();
+    Interpreter::GetInterpreter().SetEmittingCommandOutput(true);
+
+exit:
+    return;
+}
+
+} // namespace Cli
+} // namespace ot
diff --git a/src/cli/radio.cmake b/src/cli/radio.cmake
index 75f610e00..12d38ef0e 100644
--- a/src/cli/radio.cmake
+++ b/src/cli/radio.cmake
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ target_include_directories(openthread-cli-radio PUBLIC ${OT_PUBLIC_INCLUDES} PRI
 target_sources(openthread-cli-radio
     PRIVATE
         cli.cpp
+        cli_api.cpp
         cli_logging.cpp
         cli_utils.cpp
 )