Cambodia’s Strategic Benefits from Membership in the Board of Peace in the International Context and the Cambodia–Thailand Border Dispute
Cambodia’s Strategic Benefits from Membership in the Board of Peace in the International Context and the Cambodia–Thailand Border Dispute
Cambodia’s accession to the Board of Peace does not represent a mere adjustment of diplomatic posture; rather, it marks a strategic repositioning—from a “recipient of peace” to an “active shaper of peace” within the international system. Membership in the Board of Peace, an initiative launched by U.S. President Donald Trump, not only strengthens Cambodia’s political standing but also provides a new multilateral platform through which Cambodia can articulate its voice and pursue the peaceful and law-based resolution of its border dispute with Thailand.
The strategic benefits Cambodia may derive from joining the Board of Peace include:
- The elevation of Cambodia’s international status and credibility;
- The expansion of its diplomatic influence at both regional and global levels; and
- The utilization of an international peace platform to support a fair and just resolution of the Cambodia–Thailand border dispute.
Participation in the Board of Peace has the potential to transform Cambodia’s political image—from a country long scarred by war and protracted internal conflict into a nation with substantial peacebuilding experience capable of sharing valuable lessons with the international community. This engagement offers Cambodia the opportunity to strengthen trust with major powers and international organizations by demonstrating its commitment to international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes. It also enhances Cambodia’s soft power by enabling it to participate in shaping global peace and conflict-prevention agendas, while attracting political, economic, and security support from international partners that increasingly view Cambodia as a constructive peace-building actor on the global stage.
As an initiative led by the United States, the Board of Peace also provides Cambodia with a platform to deepen its strategic relationship with Washington. Through this forum, Cambodia can demonstrate its support for a rules-based international order, thereby strengthening U.S. confidence in Cambodia and potentially generating additional diplomatic, security, and economic support with long-term strategic significance.
Cambodia stands to gain direct advantages regarding the Cambodia–Thailand border dispute by using the Board of Peace as an international platform to advance its “peace-oriented diplomacy.” This approach enables Cambodia to present itself as a state committed to peaceful solutions grounded in international law and multilateral mechanisms. It also helps raise international awareness and attention to the fragile situation along the border, where the risk of renewed armed conflict remains a concern. At the same time, it contributes to constraining the use of aggressive military tactics or extreme nationalist narratives employed by segments of the Thai military against Cambodia.
Membership in the Board of Peace is therefore not merely a political gesture; it is a strategic instrument that Cambodia can leverage to enhance its soft power, build international trust, and support a just resolution of the Cambodia–Thailand border dispute. More importantly, Cambodia can utilize its participation in the Board of Peace as a critical step toward transforming abstract notions of peace into a concrete tool for safeguarding national sovereignty and advancing national interests effectively in the future.
By: Pin Vichey
Political Science Scholar
