Cambodia’s Vision for a Peaceful and Prosperous World Without Chemical Weapons

Cambodia is taking a proactive stance towards the eradication of chemical weapons, calling on nations worldwide to collaborate in this effort. At the 21st Regional Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties in Asia, Phorn Nara, the secretary general of the National Authority for the Prohibition of Chemical, Nuclear, Biological, and Radiological Weapons, emphasised the importance of close bilateral and multilateral cooperation to eliminate the threat these weapons pose to regional and international security and safety.

Cambodia’s stance is underscored by its own history of experiencing the devastating impact of chemical weapons during the Cold War. The call to eradicate weapons harmful to humanity is in line with the fundamental policy of fostering a community centred on peace, stability, and prosperity shared by ASEAN and aligning with UN objectives.

Further cementing Cambodia’s commitment to global peace and stability, Thong Mengdavid, a researcher at the Mekong Centre for Strategic Studies of the Asian Vision Institute, suggested that the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia could be used as a framework to engage member states and dialogue partners in maintaining and resolving regional peace, potentially leading to the complete abolition of chemical weapons.

Cambodia’s leadership in this area serves as an inspiring example of how nations can come together to promote peace and security for all people.