The fact that Cambodian leaders and people support US President Donald Trump’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize is a separate matter from geopolitics as well as Cambodia’s foreign policy.
After Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen wrote an official letter on behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia to members of the Nobel Peace Prize Nomination Committee on August 7, 2025, confirming his support for Trump’s nomination for the position, there has been speculation that Cambodia may be adjusting its foreign policy and geopolitical stance.
Such a view is a completely wrong political view, because the affirmation of support for a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize is not related to politics. It is an affirmation of support only for the views and actions of a person who is suitable for the Nobel Peace Prize Committee to use as a basis for consideration.
The Nobel Prize and national policy are diametrically opposed, and so far, the individuals who have received this award have not focused on policy, but only on the actions and efforts of individuals who have overcome all obstacles for the cause of peace.
The Nobel Peace Prize is known as one of the five Nobel Prizes, which include the Nobel Prize in Physics, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and the Prize in Literature.
The Nobel Prizes were established by Alfred Nobel, a prominent Swedish chemist, engineer, and businessman, in March 1901, and the first laureates were announced in December 1901. To date, a total of 142 Peace Prizes have been awarded to 111 individuals and 31 institutions.
Among them, there are four US presidents who have already received this award. The first was Theodore Roosevelt, who received it in 1906. At that time, he was the 26th US president, who tried to mediate the Russo-Japanese War at that time.
The second US president was Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president, because he was the founder of the League of Nations, or the first United Nations, after World War I, which he took over in 1919. The third US president was Jimmy Carter, the 39th president in 2002, because he worked tirelessly for peace, democracy, and human rights through the Carter Center, which he founded after leaving the White House.
In particular, the fourth president was Barack Obama in 2009 because he has worked hard to promote international diplomacy and people-to-people cooperation since he took office as president.
For Mr. Trump, he could be a worthy candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. In his letter, President Hun Sen mentioned that Mr. Trump, the 45th and 47th president of the United States, is the most thoughtful and concerned about peace.
The King said that in accordance with the requests of the Cambodian people both at home and abroad, and to express his gratitude to President Trump for his personal attention in initiating and promoting a ceasefire between the Cambodian and Thai armies, and continuing to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire until there is complete peace between the two countries, the King, as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, sent an official letter to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee to support President Trump’s candidacy for the Nobel Peace Prize.
At this time, the President may be one of three countries to support the nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, including Israel and Pakistan. The President cited President Trump’s extraordinary statesmanship, which is marked by his commitment to resolving conflicts and preventing catastrophic war through vision and innovative diplomacy.
The President also noted that Trump recently demonstrated a strong role in immediately and unconditionally breaking the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand. This timely intervention averted a potentially devastating conflict, was crucial in preventing the loss of significant lives, and paved the way for the restoration of peace between the two countries.
This is just one example of President Trump’s extraordinary achievements in reducing tensions in some of the world’s most volatile regions. His pursuit of lasting peace through diplomacy is in line with Alfred Nobel’s vision of honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to international brotherhood and the advancement of peace.
In short, in the eyes of the peace-loving Cambodian people, it is time for Mr. Trump to immediately show his peace stance. Cambodian people would certainly welcome and congratulate him if he won this award, but as for Cambodia’s foreign policy, there is no evidence that it has changed. Up to now, Cambodia has maintained the same diplomatic stance, namely globalization and multilateralism, based on the principle of strengthening friendship with existing countries and expanding new friendships, regardless of whether the country is big or small.
