Former PM Hun Sen Shares Thai Expert's Analysis: 'War Strengthens Cambodian Regime'

Phnom Penh: On the night of July 21, 2026, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, President of the Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia, once again expressed his interest in an article by Mr. Surachart Bamrungsuk, a Thai expert on international relations and security, titled "Paradoxically, War Also Strengthens Cambodia's Ruling Regime." Samdech Techo Hun Sen shared the article on his official social media, stating, "Once again today, I am interested in an article by Mr. Surachart Bamrungsuk, a Thai expert on international relations and security, titled 'Paradoxically, War Also Strengthens Cambodia's Ruling Regime.'" He added that he would share the article, providing an unofficial translation for the people of both Cambodia and Thailand to understand and learn more, and stated that he would refrain from making any further comments on the article, leaving it for the people of both countries to consider the content. The article by Mr. Surachart Bamrungsuk cited the examples of Ukraine and the Islamic Republic of Iran, noting that war has strengthened the ruling regimes in those countries. Similarly, he argued that war has also strengthened Cambodia's ruling regime. He pointed out that border conflicts do not bring strategic benefits to Thailand and may even lead to outcomes contrary to the beliefs of those in Thailand who advocate for war. These individuals believe that military force, especially aerial attacks, can lead to the collapse of the ruling regime in Phnom Penh, but this is not true. Furthermore, he stated that if Thailand does not want to rely on military force, diplomacy must be strengthened. However, he observed that Thailand's current diplomacy appears to be following Cambodia's strategy or playing within the game set by Cambodia. In terms of their roles on the international stage, Thailand often lags behind Cambodia and is in a defensive position in information warfare. He clarified that the above writings are not intended to claim that Cambodia is superior to Thailand, but rather to present a different perspective on the issue to society and to discourage full support for excessive military force. He warned that doing so would lead to falling into a trap of strategic perceptions that are not in line with reality and would not yield the expected strategic benefits. In conclusion, he stated that it is time to seek real solutions to the Cambodian issue and that Cambodia's ability to play a significant role on the international stage is stronger than previously thought. Cambodia can create influence through initiatives and continue to launch campaigns challenging Thailand. Therefore, the Deputy Prime Minister's idea of seeking a way to end the war is a major challenge, as Thailand cannot remain in such a situation indefinitely. Source: Koh Santepheap Khmer