PHNOM PENH: As the situation at the border remains tense, Prime Minister Hun Manet is embarking on oversea mission in the US and Europe, with analysts believing that the key to a successful mission lies in the proactive and constructive partnership Cambodia could play.
Manet departed for the US on Sunday (Feb 15), where he will attend the inaugural meeting of the Trump-initiated Board of Peace and will then proceed to Europe where he will meet with several European leaders.
He recently requested that France provide support with document for finding a resolution to the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict.
“It is realistic to anticipate that this meeting will serve primarily as a bridge-building exercise rather than a venue for immediate breakthroughs,” said Kin Phea, director of the International Relations Institute at Royal Academy of Cambodia.
“The success of this engagement lies in establishing a rapport and normalising high-level dialogue, ensuring that Cambodia is viewed not merely as an observer, but as a proactive and constructive partner in future global conversations,” he added.
Phea believed that by joining Board of Peace as a founding member, Cambodia has already sent a powerful message that the Kingdom loves peace and that Cambodia is not passive but actively committed to every mechanism, forum and institution dedicated to seeking, maintaining and protecting global stability.
He suggested that by being part of the board, Cambodia is enforcing its pacifist and multilateral foreign policy, reinforcing the Kingdom's stance of neutrality and openness, proving that Cambodia is ready to collaborate with diverse global actors — like President Trump — to foster dialogue and resolve conflicts peacefully.
Phea saw this as a crucial step in the diversification of multilateral diplomacy to serve the nation's strategic interests.
It could also help Cambodia to reduce its reliance on any single power and ensures its sovereignty is respected in a shifting world order.
“This platform offers invaluable access for high-level ‘personal diplomacy’ with influential global leaders and decision-makers,” he said.
He added that it would also elevates Cambodia's international prestige, potentially attracting investment and allowing the nation to directly shape its narrative on the world stage, ensuring its voice is heard clearly and respected in the West. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
