More of Germany's high-level engagement with Southeast Asia next week with the region's two senior politicians on their way to Berlin. 1 Singapore's incoming PM Lawrence Wong (who also visits France) and 2 Cambodia DPM Sar Sokha, Interior Minister (who also visits Switzerland).

Rare to see this kind of intensive and deliberate engagement of Southeast Asian states from a European country.

German Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz hosted @AnwarIbrahim @BongbongMarcos & Srettha Thavisin back-to-back in Berlin last month. I argue 🇩🇪 attempt to walk the talk in engaging SE Asia has 3 motivations: derisking from 🇨🇳, attracting SE Asia skilled workers, & green transition. doi.org/10.59425/eabc.…

The US embassy in Phnom Penh brings public diplomacy to the next level with this Khmer New Year video.

Thanks Jack Brook for quoting me in this Nikkei Asia article -- alongside Brian Eyler, Murray Hiebert & Nguyen Khac Giang -- on Cambodia's China-funded Funan Techo canal project and its implications on environment and neighbourhood relations. asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Asia…

ICYMI: I summarised for The Diplomat last month to discuss new Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet's rise to the top of the ruling CPP's leadership and the domestic politics after ex-PM Hun Sen's historic resignation last summer.

thediplomat.com/2024/01/cambod…

Three more days to apply for three-month fellowship in Singapore as 2024 Southeast Asian Young Leaders Programme Visiting Fellow. It was an amazing and humbling experience last year working with IISS News's world-class team in Singapore.

I told Tuoi Tre's Hàng Duy Linh that a new cabinet in Phnom Penh is a continuity of Sino-Cambodian relations and a door open to opportunity for improvement of ties with the US. tuoitre.vn/noi-cac-tre-ho…

On the inauguration of General Hun Manet's premiership, I also told @DWNews' Tommy Walker that the nation's foot-dragging economy is the main challenge to the new government. dw.com/en/what-to-exp…

I told @SuiLee in this @NYTimes piece that “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many Cambodians to see political change.' as General Hun Manet was sworn in as Cambodia's 37th Prime Minister. nytimes.com/2023/08/21/wor…

The number of senior political appointees in the new cabinet of Cambodia (as of this morning).

The new cabinet line-up of new Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, with a several more names appear to the list of senior ministers as an addition to the list leaked before the elections. 54 members in total + 1 chief government spokesperson.