(UPDATE) PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen has announced that he is ready to consider how autonomy can be maintained in the scenario of a nuclear war or World War III.
Speaking at the Work Review Meeting of the Ministry of Tourism on Thursday morning, 14 July, Prime Minister Hun Sen stated that the crisis of the Russia-Ukraine war has now caused the world to disintegrate, lose order, and have an energy crisis. He said the world will face even more difficulties in the future which could lead to nuclear war or even World War III.
"The situation is very difficult to predict, now the world is not in order, the world is divided into parts, so much so that where does it take us now? Nuclear war maybe, or maybe World War III can happen," said the Prime Minister. "It is not over yet! They are threatening each other. This is a situation that we need to see and think about in order to achieve our sovereignty in our country."
On Friday, 8 July, the Cambodian Council of Ministers approved the request for Cambodia to become a party to the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This Convention was adopted in 1986 following the Chernobyl nuclear plant accident, and sets out an international framework for co-operation among states parties and with the IAEA to facilitate prompt assistance and support in the event of nuclear accidents or radiological emergencies.
It requires states to notify the IAEA of their available experts, equipment, and materials for providing assistance. In case of a request, each state party decides whether it can render the requested assistance as well as its scope and terms.
The crisis in Ukraine is affecting the whole world, causing an energy crisis and greater division between Russia and the United States. NATO, a U.S. ally, has deployed troops in its member states in response to the attacks made by Russia, while Russia has stepped up military action in Ukraine and passed a number of laws to support domestic industry to its military activities as well.
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed in February that Russia's nuclear-armed forces were ready for any Western national security threat.
