Cambodia’s political succession and the next government’s external policies

Abstract

The victory by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party in July 2023 parliamentary elections occurred in the context of an ongoing leadership transition. Soon after the elections, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced plans to pass the premiership to his son, General Hun Manet, with broader generational change set to occur simultaneously in the ruling Cambodian People’s Party. Cambodia’s foreign policy, partly in preparation for this transition, has shifted from close alignment with China to a hedging posture in an effort to give the state more options in choosing its international partners.