Cambodia in 2025: Hun family faces external pressure and internal unrest

Father and son 'stuck' between sovereignty spats, Trump's hawks and nationalist dissent

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Hun Manet (L) and his wife arrive to attend the gala dinner during the 44th and 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits in Vientiane on October 2024. © via REUTERS

David Hutt is a research fellow at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS) and Southeast Asia columnist at the Diplomat. He writes the Europe Meets Southeast Asia newsletter.

Storm clouds are amassing over Cambodia. The U.S., its largest export market, could impose 10% to 20% tariffs on all imports from the country once Donald Trump enters office in January. The European Union, its second-largest market, may cut even more trade privileges. China, Cambodia's "ironclad friend," might no longer be able to sign every blank cheque on infrastructure spending.

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