Cambodia is considering an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to become a founding member of a new initiative called the Board of Peace, a decision that presents both opportunities and challenges for the Hun Manet government as it navigates relationships with major global powers.
Trump’s Invitation
Trump sent a letter to Prime Minister Hun Manet on January 16, inviting Cambodia to join the Board of Peace as a Founding Member State and become a party to its charter, though the invitation was publicly revealed several days later. In the letter, Trump described the initiative as a historic effort to “solidify peace in the Middle East and, at the same time, embark on a bold new approach to resolving global conflict.”
Ro Vannak, an international relations professor, noted the significance of the invitation given Cambodia’s status as a small state. “It reflects Cambodia’s image as a country advocating peace within ASEAN and beyond,” Vannak said, adding that the move also demonstrates U.S. efforts to expand diplomatic influence in Southeast Asia, a region where China has become a major competitor.
Opportunities and Challenges
Trump signed the charter of the Board of Peace on January 22 alongside a small group of world leaders during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. However, the nature and role of the proposed body remain uncertain, and the initiative has drawn skepticism from some U.S. allies, with concerns raised that it could rival multilateral institutions like the United Nations.
Vannak said joining the Board of Peace could elevate Cambodia’s diplomatic profile and potentially lead to political and economic gains through increased engagement with Washington. However, it also presents a test of Cambodia’s ability to balance relations between the United States and China, while maintaining strategic autonomy and an ASEAN consensus-based approach.
Participation could enhance Cambodia’s security credibility and international standing, something the country has historically lacked. Closer ties with the U.S. could also boost economic growth, attract investment, and deepen cooperation on security issues, potentially reducing Cambodia’s economic dependence on China.
Financial Considerations and Risks
Analysts warn that participation could entail expenses of up to $1 billion, a significant challenge for Cambodia’s economy. The Board of Peace’s draft charter establishes a two-tier system, with countries potentially joining for three years, but only those contributing $1 billion securing a permanent seat.
Ear Sophal, an associate professor at the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University, said the offer effectively tests a country’s willingness to buy influence in an institution with a lifelong chairman. He added that joining without paying the billion-dollar fee would limit Cambodia to a three-year term, renewable only at the chairman’s discretion.
Sophal cautioned that the optics of joining a forum already criticized as “pay-to-play” would be challenging, especially for a country seeking to avoid alignment with a single major power. He also noted that aligning with a mechanism that appears to weaken established multilateralism runs counter to Cambodia’s long-standing strategy of valuing multilateral legitimacy.
Vannak agreed that many observers may view the Board of Peace as a geopolitical tool rather than a genuine multilateral mechanism, potentially complicating Cambodia’s neutral foreign policy and drawing criticism from ASEAN partners and China. Participation could also expose Cambodia to increased pressure from China and Russia, both critical development partners.
Next Steps for Cambodia
Vannak suggested that Cambodia’s response should depend on membership conditions rather than immediate acceptance, signaling a willingness to participate as a founding member while setting clear conditions to protect its foreign policy independence. Sophal suggested seriously considering nonparticipation to avoid entanglement in an untested institution with concentrated authority.
If Cambodia decides not to join, Sophal recommended taking a principled multilateral stance, expressing support for humanitarian objectives while deferring membership until the board’s governance stabilizes and its financing model aligns with global norms. Such an approach would preserve diplomatic space with Europe, ASEAN, and the UN while respecting U.S. priorities.
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