Hun Manet’s foreign policy tested by war, leading geopolitical challenges

Hun Manet's foreign policy faces tests from war and shifting geopolitics. The composition of the larger regional settings could force Cambodia's diplomacy to balance emerging power relations and conflicts in Southeast Asia.

Hun Manet took over from his father Hun Sen, who ruled Cambodia for nearly four decades. The younger leader has tried to project a reformist image while managing pressure from regional powers and Western concerns over democratic backsliding.

This comes as a regional tension over war and geopolitical reshaping is under review. How Cambodian diplomacy navigates this setting production affects trade, security, and influence in the surrounding region over the coming period.